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
Synonyms
- bootlegger
- contrabandist
- runner
- smuggler
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 world’s biggest courier service is facing a union battle as workers demand higher pay and better working conditions. 
Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2022 Top-secret material must have specifically authorized transport, may not be sent via U.S. mail and may only be transmitted by authorized government courier service. Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2022 Houses compete to produce the most eye-catching, inventive and flamboyant show invitations delivered often by gas-guzzling courier to each guest’s personal or professional address with little thought for ecology. Thomas Adamson, ajc, 7 Mar. 2022 Hajji Abdullah supervised these operations from his Syrian residence, communicating by courier. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022 Borys Tkachukovsky, a Nova Poshta manager, opted to work as a courier in Kyiv during the worst weeks of the fighting, transporting humanitarian aid, food and military items such as uniforms and flak jackets. Anastacia Galouchka, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 After coming back online last summer, the number of applications that each individual U.S. Passport Agency now allows to be handled by a courier has been reduced. New York Times, 16 July 2022 And last year, partly in response to the pandemic, the agency said the pills may be distributed by a pharmacist or sent directly to a patient’s home by courier or by mail. Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022 The lab manages collection and shipment of samples, which are sent by courier every day except weekends. jsonline.com, 29 Apr. 2022 See More
Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2022 Top-secret material must have specifically authorized transport, may not be sent via U.S. mail and may only be transmitted by authorized government courier service. Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2022 Houses compete to produce the most eye-catching, inventive and flamboyant show invitations delivered often by gas-guzzling courier to each guest’s personal or professional address with little thought for ecology. Thomas Adamson, ajc, 7 Mar. 2022 Hajji Abdullah supervised these operations from his Syrian residence, communicating by courier. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022 Borys Tkachukovsky, a Nova Poshta manager, opted to work as a courier in Kyiv during the worst weeks of the fighting, transporting humanitarian aid, food and military items such as uniforms and flak jackets. Anastacia Galouchka, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 After coming back online last summer, the number of applications that each individual U.S. Passport Agency now allows to be handled by a courier has been reduced. New York Times, 16 July 2022 And last year, partly in response to the pandemic, the agency said the pills may be distributed by a pharmacist or sent directly to a patient’s home by courier or by mail. Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022 The lab manages collection and shipment of samples, which are sent by courier every day except weekends. jsonline.com, 29 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French corier, courrier, borrowed from Italian corriere, from correre "to run" (going back to Latin currere) + -iere -ier — more at current entry 1
First Known Use
1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing courier
Kids Definition
courier
noun
cou·ri·er ˈku̇r-ē-ər
ˈkər-
: messenger
couriers
noun
1
as in smugglers
a person who imports or exports goods secretly and illegally under wartime rationing, the only way to obtain some foods was from a courier Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- smugglers
- runners
- bootleggers
- mules
- gunrunners
- contrabandists
- coyotes
- coyote
2
as in messengers
one that carries a message or does an errand a courier just delivered a package for you Synonyms & Similar Words
- messengers
- runners
- pages
- ambassadors
- agents
- delegates
- go-betweens
- representatives
- expresses
- envoys
- deliverymen
- forerunners
- mailmen
- harbingers
- carriers
- bearers
- emissaries
- deputies
- heralds
- mail carriers
- letter carriers