bearer

American  

[bair-er] / ˈbɛər ər /

noun

bearers plural

1. a person or thing that carries, upholds, or brings.

   The postman was the bearer of wonderful news today.

   It's not fair to you to be the only bearer of the household cares.

2. the person who presents an order for money or goods.

   Pay to the bearer.

3. a tree or plant that yields fruit or flowers.

4. the holder of rank or office; incumbent.

5. pallbearer.

6. a boy or man employed as a personal or household servant, especially in a colonial household in India.

   There were dozens of bearers on the safari.

7. Printing.

   1. furniture.

   2. one of several strips of metal fitted at the sides of a plate for support during inking and proving.

8. a joistlike member supporting the floorboards of a scaffold.

9. Furniture. bearing rail.

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bearer British  

/ ˈbɛərə /

noun

1. a person or thing that bears, presents, or upholds

2. a person who presents a note or bill for payment

3. 1. a native carrier, esp on an expedition

   2. a native servant

4. See pallbearer

5. the holder of a rank, position, office, etc

6. (modifier) finance payable to the person in possession

   bearer bonds

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bearers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bearer

First recorded in 1250–1300; bear ¹, + -er ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A bearer is a person who carries or delivers something. If you hate to be the bearer of bad news, don't become a traffic cop. If you're the flag bearer in a parade, it means you march at the front gripping a flag, and a coffin bearer holds one end of the coffin at a funeral. You'll often find the word in the phrase "bearer of bad news" or "bearer of bad tidings." In the mid-17th century, the word bearer was primarily used to mean "person who carried dead bodies to the grave."

Example Sentences

Bearer bonds were unique because they were unregistered and there was no record of who bought and sold them.

From Salon • Oct. 16, 2024

The director of the Dutch National Museum told reporters the painting in question is Rembrandt's 1636 work De Vaandeldrager, or "Standard Bearer", currently owned by the Rothschild family.

From Reuters • Dec. 8, 2021

It is seeking parliamentary approval for the purchase of the Standard Bearer, a work seen as hugely important for Dutch culture and history.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2021

In Yvette’s case, methanol levels regularly were above the limit, Bearer wrote, citing exposure estimates from another expert; the hematomas on Mark’s oversized head at birth, she wrote, were classic signs of methanol poisoning.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2015

This is to Certify, to whomsoever it may concern, That the Bearer hereof That was where I had to write my name.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson