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crier

American  
[krahy-er] / ˈkraɪ ər /

noun

criers plural
  1. a person who cries.

  2. a court or town official who makes public announcements.

  3. a hawker.


crier British  
/ ˈkraɪə /

noun

  1. a person or animal that cries

  2. (formerly) an official who made public announcements, esp in a town or court

  3. a person who shouts advertisements about the goods he is selling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

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

“I’m a weird crier with movies. Like I won’t cry after I won the Super Bowl. I didn't cry when my kids were born,” he said.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2025

If it’s any consolation, you’re not an ugly crier.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2024

Southampton’s town crier, Alan Spencer, will begin the city's commemorations at 08:00 on 6 June with a special proclamation on the Civic Centre steps.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2024

The crier unslung and pegged the shining harp and, taking Demodokos’s hand, led him along with all the rest—Phaiakian peers, gay amateurs of the great games.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

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