town crier
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of town crier
First recorded in 1595–1605
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
A town crier then rang a bell and boomed, as Charles chuckled: "Oyez, oyez, oyez! I officially proclaim Colchester Zoo's newest addition as baby Dara."
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2023
In the morning, she heard the town crier walking past the house, beating a loud ogene.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
