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carrier

carrier

238 2.9
A person or company that delivers letters and packages
  • noun
  • /ˈkɛrɪər/
translation icon : transportista
  • I always use the same courier carrier for sending important documents.
  • local carriers
  • imposed on carriers

It works with all the major carriers, UPS, FedEx, UPS, Amazon Fulfillment.

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Examples

  • Many companies rely on a reliable carrier to transport their goods safely.

  • It's the mail carrier's curse.

  • Once you report a phone stolen to the carrier, it's dead.

  • A bad idea to fly him on a commercial carrier.

  • Did you identify the carrier?

  • Yeah, well, I'm your mail carrier.

  • Norfolk Southern Corporation, located in Norfolk, VA, is a major carrier of coal as well as industrial products.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Shipstation will handle it with all of the major carriers including USPS, FedEx, and UPS.

  • The mail carrier delivered my package this morning.

Synonyms

messenger
vscarrier
258 2.4

A person who delivers letters or small packages to other people

is the wider term covering many types of delivery and transport work
mailman
vscarrier
  • US
96 1.0

A person who delivers letters and packages to people's homes and businesses

is a general term for anyone or any firm that moves items
courier
vscarrier
94 3.8

A person who carries and delivers messages or packages

is broader, including slower or larger-scale transport as well
bearer
vscarrier
63 5.0

A person who carries a coffin at a funeral

is broader, focusing on practical delivery and transport of everyday items
runner
vscarrier
60 2.1

A person who delivers messages and small packages between offices

is broader, covering both internal couriers and external transport roles
postman
vscarrier
  • UK
38 1.0

A person who delivers letters and parcels to homes and businesses

is broader, applying to various delivery and transport jobs beyond post
mover
vscarrier
  • US
37 1.8

A person or company that helps people take their things to a new home

is wider, applying to many types of delivery and transport roles
hauler
vscarrier
  • US
10 4.1

A person or company that moves goods by truck on roads

is the broad term for anyone or any company moving various items
shipper
vscarrier
8 3.3

A person or company that sends goods to other places

is more general, covering many senders and transport methods
mail carrier
vscarrier
  • US
7 2.0

A person who delivers letters and packages to homes and businesses

is more general, covering not only postal work but other transport tasks
deliveryman
vscarrier
5 1.4

A person who brings packages or food to people's homes

is the inclusive term for anyone who transports mail, goods, or messages
newsboy
vscarrier
  • Archaic
4 2.3

A boy who sells or delivers newspapers

is the general name for anyone or any firm moving newspapers or goods
letter carrier
vscarrier
  • US
4 2.3

A person who delivers mail and packages to homes and shops

is the wider concept that includes postal staff and other couriers
deliverer
vscarrier
1 2.7

A person who brings packages to homes or businesses

is broader, naming any person or company that transports items
common carrier
vscarrier
  • Formal
1 3.7

A person or company that carries people and goods for the public and must pay for any loss and damage

is a simple general name for people or firms that move things
postie
vscarrier
  • Australian
1 8.4

A person who delivers letters and parcels to homes and shops

is the general category for people or companies who transport things
water carrier
vscarrier
1 4.4

A person who brings water to homes without running water

is the general transport term not limited to one carried substance
deliverywoman
vscarrier
3.5

A woman who brings packages to people's homes or shops

is the general label for people or firms who move items for others
2.8

A person who brings milk to homes or shops

is broader, applying to many kinds of delivered goods and messages

Compounds

A very large war ship with a long flat deck where military planes take off and land

personnel carrier
  • Specialized
18 4.9

A military vehicle that carries soldiers and their equipment

14 5.3

A military vehicle with metal protection that carries soldiers safely

carrier wave
  • Specialized
7 6.1

Radio wave that carries information when its strength, rate, or timing is changed

7 2.0

A person who delivers letters and packages to homes and businesses

4 2.3

A person who delivers mail and packages to homes and shops

A homing pigeon trained to carry messages between places

troop carrier
  • Specialized
3 4.4

A vehicle like a truck or plane that carries soldiers

2 2.8

A player in football or rugby who holds the ball and tries to move forward to score

A person who has a very small part in a play or film, often with no lines

1 2.8

A large truck or trailer that moves many cars to dealers

1 1.7

A bag shops give you to carry things you buy home

1 3.7

A person or company that carries people and goods for the public and must pay for any loss and damage

A person who brings water to homes without running water

weapons carrier
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A light military truck that carries weapons like mortars or machine guns and their crews

A large ship built to move thousands of cars between countries

8.2

A way to separate substances on filter paper using electric current to study them

3.9

A company that sends data for the public and must treat all messages the same

8.1

A big military ship with a long flat deck that carries and launches fighter planes

A rack on a vehicle for carrying bags

hod carrier
  • Specialized
9.9

A person who carries bricks and mortar to bricklayers at a building site

immune carrier
  • Specialized
6.7

A person or animal who carries a disease without feeling sick but can infect others

How Far

carrier
238 2.9
courier
94 3.8

Surface Forms

carrier singular
carriers plural

Morphology

carrier = carry (transparent) = carry + er

Formed from the verb 'carry' plus the agentive suffix '-er', yielding the straightforward meaning 'one who carries or transports'.

Etymology

Carrier comes from the old verb carry, which itself comes from a word for a car or cart that moved things. So a carrier is literally someone or a company who 'moves' or delivers goods.