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

Babcock might wish Bouchard could somehow grow a Lidstrom-esque defensive consciousness, but that would probably be a fool’s errand. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

With four colors and a 100 percent suede upper, this shoe is ideal for jetsetting, running post-workout errands, and everything in between. — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 5 Sep. 2026

Anhor The Great had so many pass breakups that counting would’ve been a fool’s errand. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Part of that magic is about acoustics, of course; comparing the grass carpet of an open-air Centre Court to the massive echo chamber of a closed-roof Ashe Stadium (which also holds about 10,000 more fans) on a rainy day or night is a fool’s errand. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for errand

• gerund

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