flier

noun

fli·​er ˈflī(-ə)r 

variants or less commonly flyer

1

: one that flies

She's a frequent flier on that airline.

specifically : airman

He was a flier on an aircraft carrier.

2

: a reckless or speculative venture

—usually used in the phrase take a flier

He took a flier in politics soon after getting his degree.

3

usually flyer : an advertising circular

Flyers announcing the concert were distributed throughout the city.

Synonyms

• chance
• gamble
• throw
• venture

Examples of flier in a Sentence

These birds are graceful fliers.

They distributed flyers announcing the concert throughout the city.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are the five aforementioned first-rounders and then a couple of fliers on guys in the late rounds. —Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Thibodeau has been a frequent flier at Phoenix Suns team practices so far, per Kellan Olson of Arizona Sports. —Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025

Rivas Hernandez, who would have turned 15 years old the day before she was discovered, had been reported missing by her family on multiple occasions in 2024, according to online missing person fliers. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025

The agency has already selected a group of veteran fliers for Artemis II, a test mission that will fly around the moon as soon as next year. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flier

• frequent-flier
• take a flier

Rhymes for flier

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flyer
• friar
• frier

Kids Definition

flier

noun

fli·​er

variants also flyer

ˈflī(-ə)r

1

: one that flies

especially : pilot entry 1 sense 3

2

: an undertaking (as in business) that involves much risk

3

: an advertising circular