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 of courier

• 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

Jewelry couriers carrying armored cases disappear into the famously tiny elevators. —Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026

Staffers in the front office smoked, gabbed on the phone, and chatted with the illustrators and couriers stopping by the third-floor walk-up to drop off portfolios. —Anne Kadet, Curbed, 15 May 2026

Over the next several years, authorities said Carty manipulated the victim into mailing money to couriers across the United States, who then forwarded the cash to him in Jamaica. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026

They were transported to the UK by courier service and delivered to [a storage] unit, which the organized crime group controlled. —Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026

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

Rhymes for courier

• furrier
• spurrier

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