bearer

American  

[bair-er] / ˈbɛər ər /

noun

• bearers
  plural

1. a person or thing that carries, upholds, or brings.

   The postman was the bearer of wonderful news today.

   It's not fair to you to be the only bearer of the household cares.

2. the person who presents an order for money or goods.

   Pay to the bearer.

3. a tree or plant that yields fruit or flowers.

4. the holder of rank or office; incumbent.

5. pallbearer.

6. a boy or man employed as a personal or household servant, especially in a colonial household in India.

   There were dozens of bearers on the safari.

7. Printing.

   1. furniture.

   2. one of several strips of metal fitted at the sides of a plate for support during inking and proving.

8. a joistlike member supporting the floorboards of a scaffold.

9. Furniture. bearing rail.

---

bearer British  

/ ˈbɛərə /

noun

1. a person or thing that bears, presents, or upholds

2. a person who presents a note or bill for payment

3. 1. a native carrier, esp on an expedition

   2. a native servant

4. See pallbearer

5. the holder of a rank, position, office, etc

6. (modifier) finance payable to the person in possession

   bearer bonds

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bearers
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of bearer

First recorded in 1250–1300; bear ¹, + -er ¹ ( def. )

---

Explanation

A bearer is a person who carries or delivers something. If you hate to be the bearer of bad news, don't become a traffic cop. If you're the flag bearer in a parade, it means you march at the front gripping a flag, and a coffin bearer holds one end of the coffin at a funeral. You'll often find the word in the phrase "bearer of bad news" or "bearer of bad tidings." In the mid-17th century, the word bearer was primarily used to mean "person who carried dead bodies to the grave."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bearer bearers

“All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. A standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Wimbledon’s No. 1 Court will feature a showdown between U.S. standard bearer Jessica Pegula and American rising star Iva Jovic in the round of 16.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Before “Interview with the Vampire” and “The Vampire Lestat,” Hammer Film Productions’ gothic horror movies made “Dracula” their standard bearer.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

Intel’s foundry business, which is aiming to attract external customers for its chip manufacturing, has also been a bearer of seemingly good news for investors.

From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026

What was possible to say was already in print on a banner that repeated a couple of promises from the Declaration of Independence and waved over the head of its bearer.

From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison

But since the rings select their bearers by asking whether they’re afraid during an ambush designed to create dread, the test favors those for whom life never presents anything to fear.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026

In 2009, Ariane became her husband’s No. 2 at the Swiss bank, to the alarm of some culture bearers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

He added: "I can assure you of integrity of current staff and elected office bearers but neither that nor justice being done addresses the perilous financial position which we find ourselves in as a result."

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026

Cameras were supposed to be bearers of truth and armor against lies, vehicles of justice and agents of change.

From Slate ● Jan. 15, 2026

“Those bearers were slaves before I came. 1 made them free. Yet that palanquin is no lighter.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---