crier
Americannoun
-
a person or animal that cries
-
(formerly) an official who made public announcements, esp in a town or court
-
a person who shouts advertisements about the goods he is selling
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of crier
1250–1300; Middle English criere < Old French. See cry, -er 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ignoble battle ends when a neighbor, Mrs. Prothero, shouts that her house is on fire, “announcing ruin like a town crier in Pompeii.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
He continued dance-walking down the long city block, the time-traveling Black town crier was waking up all those who would listen.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2025
Early SigAlerts had rather a small-town feel, like a town crier.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2024
In Lisburn, events begin early with a D-Day proclamation read by a town crier from the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum at 08:00.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2024
Finally Louis waved a hand at the crier.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.