bearer

American  

[bair-er] / ˈbɛər ər /

noun

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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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

Intel’s foundry business, which is aiming to attract external customers for its chip manufacturing, has also been a bearer of seemingly good news for investors.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

He is a flag bearer for post-war liberal democracy, a defender of the rules-based international order.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

At the head of a delegation of 46 athletes, Heraskevych marched in Milan last week as his country's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, alongside speed skater Yelyzaveta Sydorko.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

“Michele and the Spirit leadership spoke about the vision for the franchise, creating sustainable success, implementing innovation and being a standard bearer for women’s sports,” Johnson wrote on X following Thursday’s event.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

I got a feeling that in a real fight, the bearer of that shield would be almost impossible to beat.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan