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

Customers are charged a small delivery fee and have the option to tip the restaurant directly for carryout or Uber couriers for delivery. —Anna Spiegel, Axios, 13 Aug. 2024

In May 2021, nearly $600,000 of drug trafficking proceeds was seized in Pasadena, Calif, from a courier accused of working for a Chinese money laundering organization linked to the Sinaloa cartel. —Lisa Cavazuti, NBC News, 3 Aug. 2024

The United States Postal Service does not allow alcoholic beverages to be sent through the mail, but courier services like UPS and FedEx allow shipments if the sender is a licensed vendor. —Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 27 July 2024

Others in the vast drug conspiracy included a courier who was arrested in Fairfield with four kilograms of fentanyl and more than $40,000 in cash. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 18 July 2024

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