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
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
—
Jay Cannon, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Algorithms map the fastest routes for couriers.
—Kurt Knutsson
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links., FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
The drone deliveries will roll out in pilot markets before the end of this year and are part of a broader push to diversify the company's delivery capabilities beyond human couriers, vehicles, and sidewalk robots.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for courier
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.
Jay Cannon, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Algorithms map the fastest routes for couriers.
—Kurt Knutsson
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links., FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2025
The drone deliveries will roll out in pilot markets before the end of this year and are part of a broader push to diversify the company's delivery capabilities beyond human couriers, vehicles, and sidewalk robots.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share