Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

vancourier

noun
van·​courier | \ (ˈ)van + pronunciation at courier\

Definition of vancourier

: a scout or herald sent in advance : forerunner, precursor

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for vancourier

modification (influenced by courier) of Middle French avant-coureur, from avant- fore- + coureur runner, from Old French courre to run + -eur -or

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about vancourier

Statistics for vancourier

Look-up Popularity

Comments on vancourier

What made you want to look up vancourier? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

peer-to-peer

Listen to the pronounciation of peer-to-peer

using a distributed computer network

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

  • time traveler quiz which word came first
  • Which came first?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games