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
This fee is subject to fuel surcharges and will apply based on the billable weight of the shipment, according to the courier.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Apr. 2025
The victim alertly wrote down the license plate of the alleged courier, who was swiftly arrested, and has since been ordered to pay restitution.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Based on a Black List script by Tommy White and Miles Hubley, Runner follows Hank Malone (Ritchson), a high-end courier faced with a harrowing, life-or-death mission: deliver an organ to a 7-year-old girl in need of an immediate transplant.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025
Offline, thieves pose as couriers, using fake uniforms or IDs to grab packages mid-route or steal them from doorsteps.
—Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for courier
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Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 15 Apr. 2025
The victim alertly wrote down the license plate of the alleged courier, who was swiftly arrested, and has since been ordered to pay restitution.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Based on a Black List script by Tommy White and Miles Hubley, Runner follows Hank Malone (Ritchson), a high-end courier faced with a harrowing, life-or-death mission: deliver an organ to a 7-year-old girl in need of an immediate transplant.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025
Offline, thieves pose as couriers, using fake uniforms or IDs to grab packages mid-route or steal them from doorsteps.
—Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for courier
Cite this Entry
“Courier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courier. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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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