errand

American  

[er-uhnd] / ˈɛr ənd /

noun

• errands
  plural

1. a short and quick trip to accomplish a specific purpose, as to buy something, deliver a package, or convey a message, often for someone else.

   Synonyms:

   chore, assignment, task, mission

2. the purpose of such a trip.

   He finished his errands.

   Synonyms:

   chore, assignment, task, mission

3. a special mission or function entrusted to a messenger; commission.

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errand British  

/ ˈɛrənd /

noun

1. a short trip undertaken to perform a necessary task or commission (esp in the phrase run errands )

2. the purpose or object of such a trip

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errand Idioms  

1. see fool's errand; run an errand.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• errands
  plural

Etymology

Origin of errand

First recorded before 900; Middle English erande, Old English ærende; cognate with Old High German āruntī; compare Old English ār “messenger,” Gothic airus; not related to err ( def. ), errant ( def. )

Explanation

An errand is a short trip to fulfill some small business. When you’re running errands, you’re making a bunch of these all at once. The noun errand can refer to the mission of the trip itself. If the lines are always long at the bank, then banking may be your least favorite errand. If you are off on a wild goose chase, you may be out on a fool's errand. If you are taking food or clothing to someone in need, then you are on an errand of mercy.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

errand errands

Ultimately, trying to clone Obama is likely to be a fool’s errand.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

Don’t tell me this is a fool’s errand, that there’s no path, that this doesn’t make any sense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Without the prescribed navigation I was accustomed to in a museum, this became a fool’s errand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

There is a lot that is different about the mega-IPO, making definitive predictions a fool’s errand.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

“Stay where you are, Jo. I’m errand boy to this establishment,” said Laurie, taking up his cap.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

But if Muse doesn’t become reliable at doing computer errands, one of its competitors probably will.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Investigators found that Chavez-DeRemer repeatedly used federal employees for personal errands, including sending her personal aide and executive assistant to her home during the workday to organize her bedroom closet.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

Kandace Redd, a AAA spokesperson, said the organization’s past research shows that consumers are most likely to drive less, combine errands and reduce shopping or dining out to cope with record pump prices.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

They allege that at the time, Clancy sent her husband, Patrick Clancy, out on errands so that he would not be home.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Vincent is a jack of all trades: he supervises shipments, keeps the account books, runs errands, and does whatever other odd jobs need doing.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman