- a variation of flier.
flyer
Americannoun
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flyers
plural
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Textiles.
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a rotating device that adds twist to the slubbing or roving and winds the stock onto a spindle or bobbin in a uniform manner.
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a similar device for adding twist to yarn.
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noun
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a person or thing that flies or moves very fast
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an aviator or pilot
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informal a long flying leap; bound
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a fast-moving machine part, esp one having periodic motion
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a rectangular step in a straight flight of stairs Compare winder
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athletics an informal word for flying start
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a speculative business transaction
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a small handbill
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of flyer
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at fly 2, -er 1
Explanation
A flyer can be something or someone that flies on a plane, but another meaning is a handbill or advertising sheet handed out to people on the street. Because it's designed to go far, it gained the name flyer. As far back as the 15th Century, Middle English used the word flyer to refer to something that travels quickly through the air, generally a bird or projectile. The connection with a person came about later, when air travel became more common. If you are a frequent flyer, you travel a lot. If you frequently post flyers, maybe you're in a band. Note: it doesn't matter if you spell the word flyer or "flier," as both are correct, but don't use both in one piece of writing.
Vocabulary lists containing flyer
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.
See Examples For:
One day he walked in with a flyer he designed to advertise an $18 lunchtime deal for teachers and students.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
She’s not a good flyer and has always driven.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Recently, I watched someone stop on the street to read a flyer for a Repair Fair.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
He came back to Iowa to meet them again a year later, this time with a date, a venue and a flyer he could hand to them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
“Of course I’m sure. Your flyer stood out from the class. And of all the portfolios I asked students to submit on the first day of class, yours was the most impressive!”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
Pity flyers who were diverted to airports hours away.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
American Airlines wants its flyers to have screens – and not just the ones its passengers bring on board with them.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Delta and United have been among the pioneers of segmentation in economy, and they’ve also focused on attracting richer flyers.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
She has worked handing out flyers as a way to offset the expense of seeing a range of performances over the course of a day.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Suesetta and I helped design the flyers that we will hand out to people who are entering the store.
From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
