flyer

American  

[flahy-er] / ˈflaɪ ər /

noun

1. Textiles.

   1. a rotating device that adds twist to the slubbing or roving and winds the stock onto a spindle or bobbin in a uniform manner.

   2. a similar device for adding twist to yarn.

2. flier.

---

flyer British  

/ ˈflaɪə /

noun

1. a person or thing that flies or moves very fast

2. an aviator or pilot

3. informal a long flying leap; bound

4. a fast-moving machine part, esp one having periodic motion

5. a rectangular step in a straight flight of stairs Compare winder

6. athletics an informal word for flying start

7. a speculative business transaction

8. a small handbill

---

Etymology

Origin of flyer

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at fly ², -er ¹

Explanation

A flyer can be something or someone that flies on a plane, but another meaning is a handbill or advertising sheet handed out to people on the street. Because it's designed to go far, it gained the name flyer. As far back as the 15th Century, Middle English used the word flyer to refer to something that travels quickly through the air, generally a bird or projectile. The connection with a person came about later, when air travel became more common. If you are a frequent flyer, you travel a lot. If you frequently post flyers, maybe you're in a band. Note: it doesn't matter if you spell the word flyer or "flier," as both are correct, but don't use both in one piece of writing.

Example Sentences

Two children’s rides in the park — Magic Flyer and Tweety’s Escape — are slated to be demolished, park officials confirmed Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025

The BBC has contacted the PIPC, ByteDance and DeepSeek's parent company, High Flyer, for a response.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2025

“Feeding our children is not just a matter of public policy — it is a moral imperative,” Cohen wrote, according to the Memphis Flyer.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2025

When my great-grandfather visited New York for a few years starting in 1907, he saw construction of the world’s tallest building and Wilbur Wright showcasing his Flyer by zooming around the still-bronze Statue of Liberty.

From Slate • May 15, 2024

Since the Wright Brothers’ 1915 Flyer, airplanes had evolved from pelican-like awkwardness to sleek machines with the silhouette of a falcon; why wouldn’t a spaceship continue along that same path?

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• flier