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
The fentanyl was then smuggled by the Sinaloa cartel’s couriers, using vehicles and tunnels that went from Tijuana and other border locations into the U.S., according to the plea.
—
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Last month, the courier’s other ongoing labor dispute was resolved when Canada Post’s second-largest postal workers union, the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA), agreed to new terms.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025
Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: Robot couriers may stumble today, but over a longer horizon, their spread feels inevitable.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
As recently as 10 years ago, such travel was a complicated process: couriers rushed with sealed envelopes, embassy staff made dozens of calls to coordinate routes, and logisticians manually checked the documents issued.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for courier
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Last month, the courier’s other ongoing labor dispute was resolved when Canada Post’s second-largest postal workers union, the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA), agreed to new terms.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025
Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: Robot couriers may stumble today, but over a longer horizon, their spread feels inevitable.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
As recently as 10 years ago, such travel was a complicated process: couriers rushed with sealed envelopes, embassy staff made dozens of calls to coordinate routes, and logisticians manually checked the documents issued.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 6 July 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 18 Jul. 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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