Bearer
/ˈbɛərər/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
A person or animal that carries something; something that carries or supports something else.
/ˈbɛərər/
nounneutralBeginner
General
A person or thing that carries something.
The messenger was the bearer of important documents.
💡 Simply: Someone or something that carries.
More Examples
2
This bond is a bearer instrument.
How It's Used
Finance
"The bearer of the check cashed it at the bank."
Formal
"He was the bearer of sad news."
From Old English *beran, meaning 'to carry'. It developed through Middle English to its current form, retaining its core sense of carrying or holding.
Historically, 'bearer' was more frequently used in reference to messengers or those carrying important items. Its usage in finance ('bearer instrument') is a more recent development.
Memory tip
Imagine a bear carrying a basket – the bear is the bearer.
Practice
Base: bear
barerbearear
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written