: one that bears: such as
a
b
: a plant yielding fruit
c
d
: one holding a check, draft, bond, or other order for payment especially if marked payable to bearer
—often used attributively
bearer bonds
Examples of bearer in a Sentence
the bearer of a U.S. passport
The check was marked “payable to bearer.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Moreover, assuming Newsom does run for president in 2028, both men will have made their political moves at a time when the Democratic party was rudderless and in need of a new standard bearer.
—
Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
And, sorry to be the bearer of even more bad news, the same applies to your smartphone PIN code.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
That makes one of the greatest films of all time, and the standard bearer of the French New Wave, ripe for discovery for a younger generation — and fresher still for the older ones well familiar with it.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
Few people realise that the $640 million in negotiable bearer bonds Hans so desperately wanted was needed to fund his vinyl addiction.
—Chris Haslam, Wired News, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bearer
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Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 1 June 2025
And, sorry to be the bearer of even more bad news, the same applies to your smartphone PIN code.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
That makes one of the greatest films of all time, and the standard bearer of the French New Wave, ripe for discovery for a younger generation — and fresher still for the older ones well familiar with it.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
Few people realise that the $640 million in negotiable bearer bonds Hans so desperately wanted was needed to fund his vinyl addiction.
—Chris Haslam, Wired News, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bearer
Cite this Entry
“Bearer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bearer. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bearer
noun
bear·er
ˈbar-ər 
ˈber-
1
: someone or something that bears, supports, or carries
2
: a person holding a check or order for payment
Legal Definition
bearer
1 of 2 noun
bear·er
ˈbar-ər
: a person holding a check, draft, or other negotiable instrument for payment especially marked payable to bearer or having a blank endorsement
bearer
2 of 2 adjective
: freely transferable by the holder with or without endorsement and with full title passing by delivery to the transferee: as
a
: not having a registered owner
b
: not designating a specific payee
a bearer instrument
bearer checks
compare order
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