courier

noun

cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər 

ˈkər-ē-,

ˈkə-rē-

1

: messenger: such as

a

: a member of a diplomatic (see diplomatic sense 2) service entrusted with bearing messages

b(1)

: an espionage agent transferring secret information

(2)

: a runner of contraband (see contraband sense 2)

drug couriers

c

: a member of the armed services whose duties include carrying mail, information, or supplies

2

: a traveler's paid attendant

especially : a tourists' guide employed by a travel agency

Synonyms

• bootlegger
• contrabandist
• runner
• smuggler

Examples of courier in a Sentence

Police recently arrested a drug courier in our neighborhood.

A courier just left a package for you on the porch.

Recent Examples on the Web

Envelopes stuffed with cash were routinely sent by courier to girlfriends and parents, to avoid a direct paper trail to the players. —Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024

Food couriers continue to deliver, cycling along empty streets. —Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

The agreement marks a turning point in the EU’s years-long efforts to set clearer employment rights for millions of delivery couriers and drivers who get work from online platforms, such as those offered by Uber Technologies Inc. and Deliveroo Plc. —Max Ramsay, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024

Around noon Wednesday, the woman gave the money to the courier, who then left the area, the sheriff’s office said. —Jason Green, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024

The victim made multiple withdrawals ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 each time, the District Attorney’s Office said, and gave the cash to couriers who showed up on her doorstep. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024

In late January 2023, Kirby received a letter via courier that was postmarked st. petersburg. —TIME, 29 Feb. 2024

Yet the freelance cannabis couriers already streaming on city streets easily dwarf the number of dispensaries. —Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024

In October 2023, a New Jersey man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for operating a drug courier service that distributed drugs for over seven years. —USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French corier, courrier, borrowed from Italian corriere, from correre "to run" (going back to Latin currere) + -iere -ier — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing courier

• vaunt-courier

Kids Definition

courier

noun

cou·​ri·​er ˈku̇r-ē-ər 

ˈkər-ē-,

ˈkə-rē-

: a messenger especially in the diplomatic service

Etymology

Middle English courrier "a person who carries (runs) messages from one place to another quickly," from early Italian corriere (same meaning), derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to current