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

• bootlegger
• contrabandist
• runner
• 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

After police were notified, the individual allegedly asked the elderly man for another $20,000 and told him a courier would come by to pick it up in the afternoon hours on Thursday, according to police. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2025

Open-style earbuds are also a great way of listening to music in an office setting while still being able to hear conversations, phone calls or a courier knocking on the front door. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

According to the report, the couriers were then given Russian documents and granted asylum in Russia. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

According to the courier, the on-time service guarantees for domestic parcels are in effect for items inducted as of Monday. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 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

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