: 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
The two have amped up their public appearances after breaking the news of their engagement (Gomez has since revealed who the ring bearer will be at her nuptials).
—
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Sorry to be the bearer of good news, what with sports fans here always wary of the next SD-logo’d anvil falling out of the sky.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Martin Short also offered his services as a ring bearer while on the Tonight Show.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
At the film's center is Ingrid Luna/Aurora/the Spider Woman, the arbiter of Molina's salvation and the bearer of the kiss of death.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bearer
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Sorry to be the bearer of good news, what with sports fans here always wary of the next SD-logo’d anvil falling out of the sky.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Martin Short also offered his services as a ring bearer while on the Tonight Show.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
At the film's center is Ingrid Luna/Aurora/the Spider Woman, the arbiter of Molina's salvation and the bearer of the kiss of death.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share