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
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
In Ohio and Indiana, people can order Powerball tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
—
Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2026
The photo shows a large cardboard box placed inside a metal courier locker in a way that appears to take up the entire compartment.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The bill would require couriers in charge of the cash exports to disclose additional information about the beneficiaries of the outbound cash, reporting any money heading to countries of concern, including state sponsors of terrorism and destinations identified as high-risk by the State Department.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for courier
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show current usage.
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Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2026
The photo shows a large cardboard box placed inside a metal courier locker in a way that appears to take up the entire compartment.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier.
—Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The bill would require couriers in charge of the cash exports to disclose additional information about the beneficiaries of the outbound cash, reporting any money heading to countries of concern, including state sponsors of terrorism and destinations identified as high-risk by the State Department.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for courier
Cite this Entry
“Courier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courier. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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