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. )

Example Sentences

Lai was accused of violating the NSL for his role in the protests and also through his tabloid Apple Daily, which became a standard bearer for the pro-democracy movement.

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2025

His admiration for HBO is well-established, and it would be an unwise business strategy to kill or diminish prestige TV’s standard bearer after acquiring it.

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2025

But Abbot Joseph Mpundu, a standard bearer for the repressed 1992 protests against Mobutu's rule, takes a dim view of any rehabilitation of the ex-dictator's image.

From Barron's • Nov. 13, 2025

The shares were in bearer form, meaning they were paper certificates that belong to whoever physically holds them—like cash—so the owner’s name never appears in a register.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

He knocked down the standard bearer and grabbed the eagle.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan