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

He was spotted out running errands in Malibu that same month, not long after winning a Daytime Emmy and watching his birthday special win a Creative Arts Emmy Award. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Business: Planning to run errands on this Election Day? —Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024

Eagle-eyed paparazzi recently spotted new dad Tom Ackerley running some very telling errands near their home. —Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 3 Nov. 2024

The 44-year-old supermodel was photographed running errands in Miami, Florida on Thursday, October 31. —Alex Gonzalez, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 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