courier

[kur-ee-er, koor-]

noun

1. a messenger, usually traveling in haste, bearing urgent news, important reports or packages, diplomatic messages, etc.

2. any means of carrying news, messages, etc., regularly.

3. the conveyance used by a courier, as an airplane or ship.

4. Chiefly British.,  a tour guide for a travel agency.

courier

/ ˈkʊərɪə /

noun

1. a special messenger, esp one carrying diplomatic correspondence

2. a person who makes arrangements for or accompanies a group of travellers on a journey or tour

verb

1. (tr) to send (a parcel, letter, etc) by courier

Word History and Origins

Origin of courier¹

1350–1400; < Middle French cour ( r ) ier < Italian corriere, equivalent to corr ( ere ) to run (< Latin currere ) + -iere < Latin -ārius -ary; replacing Middle English corour < Anglo-French cor ( i ) our, Old French coreor < Late Latin curritor runner; current, -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of courier¹

C16: from Old French courrier, from Old Latin corriere, from correre to run, from Latin currere

Example Sentences

He completed a three-month language course in St Petersburg before moving to Moscow for college, supporting himself part-time as a kitchenware courier.

Read more on BBC

Scammers in Ghana extracted payments using a range of schemes, including fake courier and customs shipment fees.

Read more on BBC

Ms Fallows said she was a regular user of the courier service, which was "usually really good" but was now left frustrated.

Read more on BBC

Springfields and Knife Warehouse sent the weapons via couriers who requested age checks at the door.

Read more on BBC

At a trial earlier this year, she had been given a suspended sentence for paying one of her son's couriers.

Read more on BBC