courier
KOO-ree-er
/ˈkʊriər/
A messenger or agent sent to convey packages, food, or urgent documents quickly.
Implies rapid, direct transport of specific goods, unlike standard postal workers who follow set daily mail routes.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to Latin 'currere', meaning 'to run'. In medieval Europe, a courier was literally a running runner carrying urgent royal dispatches across distances.
Word relationships
- messenger: A general term for someone carrying information or goods, whereas a courier usually refers to formal transport services.
- carrier: Refers broadly to companies or vehicles transporting freight, while courier emphasizes individual speed and personal delivery.
- recipient: The person receiving the goods rather than the person transporting them.
Commonly confused with
- curator: A curator manages a museum or collection, while a courier delivers items.
Word family
- couriered (verb): Sent or conveyed via messenger.
Collocations
- express courier
- courier service
- dispatch a courier
- bicycle courier
Example sentences
- "The courier arrived with the package just as the afternoon rain began to fall." E-commerce delivery context
- "Each courier carries an insulated bag to ensure that meals arrive hot at the customer's home." Food delivery service note
Memory hook
Think of a runner carrying letters who takes a QUICK CURVE around the corner. A courier hurries on a fast route.
When not to use
Do not use for general transport drivers like bus operators or long-haul freight truckers.
Fun facts
- In ancient Persia, couriers rode horses along the Royal Road in a relay system that inspired the phrase 'neither snow nor rain'.
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