Carrier
Carrier (noun) means a person, vehicle, or company that transports goods, passengers, or messages. Example: “The package was handed off to a different carrier for the last leg of delivery.”
noun
1
A person, vehicle, or company that transports goods, passengers, or messages.
"The package was handed off to a different carrier for the last leg of delivery."
"Her phone carrier offers unlimited data plans."
2
Someone who carries and can transmit a disease or gene without necessarily showing symptoms.
"He tested positive as a carrier of the recessive gene."
3
Short for "aircraft carrier," a warship built to launch and land airplanes.
"The fleet was led by a nuclear-powered carrier."
How to use Carrier
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething or someone that carries, transports, or transmits.
Common pairings
insurance carrier
phone carrier
disease carrier
aircraft carrier
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Word forms
- Plural
- Carriers
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The package was handed off to a different _____ for the last leg of delivery.
Etymology
From Middle English cariere, partly from carien + -ere, after Anglo-Norman carier, cariour, and partly directly from Anglo-Norman. By surface analysis, carry + -er.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Carrier
See all rhymes for Carrier →Frequently asked questions
What does “Carrier” mean?
The word “Carrier” means a person, vehicle, or company that transports goods, passengers, or messages. In plain terms, something or someone that carries, transports, or transmits.
How do you use “Carrier” in a sentence?
Here is “Carrier” used in a sentence: “The package was handed off to a different carrier for the last leg of delivery.”
What part of speech is “Carrier”?
“Carrier” is a noun.
Is “Carrier” a common word?
“Carrier” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “Carrier” have?
“Carrier” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, vehicle, or company that transports goods, passengers, or messages.
What is the difference between a "carrier" and a "courier"?
A carrier is any person, vehicle, or company that transports goods, passengers, or messages, and often refers to large shipping or airline companies. A courier is a more specific type of carrier that delivers parcels and documents quickly, usually over shorter distances.
What are common types of "carrier" in transport?
Common examples include an airline carrier, a shipping carrier, and a common carrier that transports goods for the public. The word also appears in "aircraft carrier," a warship that carries and launches planes.
What is a "carrier" in phone and internet services?
In telecommunications, a carrier is a company that provides mobile phone, internet, or network service to customers. This use extends the core meaning of a business that transports something, in this case signals and data rather than physical goods.
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