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

• 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

Questions were asked about the following sectors: well-being, personal care and beauty, financial and legal services, retail, technology, sports and exercise, entertainment, leisure and hospitality, household goods and services and couriers, delivery and postal services. —Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

The use of couriers, which have been operating for several years in Texas, became widely discussed during the 2023 legislative session when lawmakers questioned then-Executive Director Gary Grief about them. —John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025

Baek uses some local gangsters, posing as regular mail couriers, to distribute the guns. —Kayti Burt, Time, 25 July 2025

As the citizens of the state struggle to seize power back from an autocratic government, the story centers on Jamil, a war zone courier/smuggler, and Zora, a young leader in the Mulholland Resistance, who attempt to escape Occupied Los Angeles, a city under martial law. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2025

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