: 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
He was selected as the flag bearer for Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
—
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Rather, the quality of the luggage speaks for itself—a signal to others walking the airport that its bearer is a veteran of many first-class flights.
—Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
The top Democrat in the House has stayed on the fence since Mamdani’s win, even as other prominent Democrats who backed Cuomo have gotten in line behind the party’s standard bearer.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
If this is the allegorical virgin birth, Pandora edition, then Kiri’s other parent would be Pandora’s version of God: Eywa, whom the Na’vi generally engage with in the form of a tree, or flora (seed bearer — get it?).
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bearer
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Rather, the quality of the luggage speaks for itself—a signal to others walking the airport that its bearer is a veteran of many first-class flights.
—Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
The top Democrat in the House has stayed on the fence since Mamdani’s win, even as other prominent Democrats who backed Cuomo have gotten in line behind the party’s standard bearer.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
If this is the allegorical virgin birth, Pandora edition, then Kiri’s other parent would be Pandora’s version of God: Eywa, whom the Na’vi generally engage with in the form of a tree, or flora (seed bearer — get it?).
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 July 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 8 Aug. 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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