errand

noun

er·​rand ˈer-ənd 

ˈe-rənd

1

a

: a short trip taken to attend to some business often for another

was on an errand for his mother

b

: the object or purpose of such a trip

2

archaic

a

: an oral message entrusted to a person

b

: embassy, mission

Examples of errand in a Sentence

He was sent out on an urgent errand.

We were there on an errand of mercy to help provide medical care for the refugees.

Recent Examples on the Web

On Wednesday morning, those headed out the door for their exercises, errands and commutes were greeted with brisk air. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

Chris Washington, a Gilbert local and former NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers, lost his 1989 championship ring while running errands with his wife on March 14. —Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024

Stock market timing is a fool’s errand, but ensuring your portfolio matches your risk tolerance, and some caution on the margins makes sense here. —Bill Stone, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Initially, three teenage boys worked as volunteer transport helpers, caring for FNS’s horses and running errands for the nurse-midwives. —Eliza McGraw, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024

What becomes clear is that these troubled missionaries are on a fool’s errand. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024

Trying to diagnose a season beforehand is really a fool’s errand because…. —Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024

Pamela, a high school student, went missing on October 16, 1970, after going to a mall to run an errand for her mother, according to police. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024

This relaxed zip-front jacket is my favorite layering item when heading to and from Pilates, for coffee meetups, and running errands. —Jean Chen Smith, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English erend message, business, from Old English ǣrend; akin to Old High German ārunti message

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing errand

• errand boy
• fool's errand

Kids Definition

errand

noun

er·​rand ˈer-ənd 

: a short trip taken to do or get something especially for someone else

also : the object or purpose of such a trip