Carrier: meaning, definitions and examples

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carrier

 

[ ˈkæriər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

transportation

A person or thing that carries, holds, or conveys something.

Synonyms

bearer, conveyor, transporter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
carrier

Often used in contexts involving transportation or communication systems. Can refer to people, animals, vehicles, or companies that transport goods, people, or information.

  • The carrier will deliver your package in two days.
  • Many viruses have human carriers.
transporter

Can refer to vehicles, machines, or sometimes people that move goods or people from one place to another. Often used in a more technical or scientific context.

  • The transporter delivered the construction materials to the site.
  • In science fiction, a transporter can teleport people from one location to another.
conveyor

Usually related to mechanical systems for moving goods or materials from one place to another, often in industrial settings.

  • The factory utilizes a conveyor to move products along the assembly line.
  • The baggage conveyor belt at the airport was malfunctioning.
bearer

Typically used when referring to someone who carries something important, often physically but sometimes symbolically. It is often used in formal or ceremonial contexts.

  • He was the bearer of bad news.
  • The torchbearer led the procession.

Examples of usage

  • The truck is a carrier of goods.
  • Bees are carriers of pollen.
Context #2 | Noun

communication

A person or company that undertakes the professional conveyance of items or information from one place to another.

Synonyms

courier, deliverer, messenger.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
carrier

Used to refer to a person or company that delivers goods, mail, or performs other transportation services. Often used in logistics and postal services.

  • The carrier left the package at my doorstep
  • Major carriers like UPS and FedEx handle international shipping
messenger

Describes a person who carries messages or information. Often used in historical contexts or for informal, in-person communication.

  • The king sent a messenger to deliver the urgent news
  • In the old days, messengers were used to send important letters
courier

Typically used to describe a person or service responsible for fast and secure delivery of documents or parcels. Often used in professional and business contexts.

  • We need to send these documents via courier to ensure they arrive on time
  • The courier service promises same-day delivery
deliverer

Refers to a person who physically brings goods to a recipient. Commonly used in the context of food delivery, newspapers or parcels.

  • The pizza deliverer arrived within 30 minutes
  • The mail deliverer left a note about the package

Examples of usage

  • The postal service is a carrier of letters.
  • The company is a carrier of internet services.
Context #3 | Noun

aviation

An aircraft or ship that transports passengers or cargo.

Synonyms

airline, shipping company, transport company.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
carrier

Used as a general term for any company or person that transports goods or people.

  • DHL is a well-known carrier for international shipments.
  • In telecommunications, a carrier provides the network and service to customers.
airline

Specifically refers to companies that provide air transport services for passengers or cargo.

  • British Airways is one of the largest airlines in Europe.
  • The airline offers flights to over 100 destinations worldwide.
shipping company

Refers to businesses that specialize in transporting goods by sea.

  • Maersk is a global shipping company that operates in many countries.
  • The shipping company handles the logistics of moving products overseas.
transport company

A broad term for companies involved in the movement of goods or people, by any mode of transport including road, rail, air, and sea.

  • FedEx is a major transport company known for its overnight shipping services.
  • A local transport company manages the public bus services in the city.

Examples of usage

  • The airline is a carrier of passengers.
  • The cargo ship is a carrier of goods.

Translations

Translations of the word "carrier" in other languages:

🇵🇹 portador

🇮🇳 वाहक

🇩🇪 Träger

🇮🇩 pengangkut

🇺🇦 перевізник

🇵🇱 przewoźnik

🇯🇵 運搬者 (うんぱんしゃ)

🇫🇷 transporteur

🇪🇸 transportista

🇹🇷 taşıyıcı

🇰🇷 운반자

🇸🇦 حامل

🇨🇿 dopravce

🇸🇰 dopravca

🇨🇳 运载工具

🇸🇮 prevoznik

🇮🇸 flutningsaðili

🇰🇿 тасымалдаушы

🇬🇪 მზიდავი

🇦🇿 daşıyıcı

🇲🇽 transportista

Etymology

The word 'carrier' originated in the 14th century from the Middle English word 'carier', which in turn came from the Anglo-French word 'carier'. The concept of carrying or transporting goods and information has been essential throughout human history, leading to the development of carriers in various industries such as transportation, communication, and aviation.

See also: carriers, carry, carryall, carrying, carryout.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,084, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.