Standard Lemma guide

carrier

name · noun · 33 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australian, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkæɹi.ə/
  • British, Southern, Standard: /ˈkaɹɪjə/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈkæɹi.ɚ/ without the Mary–marry–merry merger
  • /ˈkɛɹi.ɚ/ General American, Mary–marry–merry merger, Canada
  • Scotland: /ˈkaɾe.əɾ/
  • Scotland: /-ɾɪ.əɾ/
  • Scotland: /-ɾi.əɾ/
  • Wales: /ˈkaɾi.ə/
  • South-Asia: /ˈkarɪjə(r)/
  • homophone: career (spelling pronunciation)
  • rhymes with -æɹiə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: K AE1 R IY0 ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: K EH1 R IY0 ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A Northern Athabaskan language spoken in Canada. Sometimes considered to be three separate languages: Southern Carrier, Northern Carrier and Central Carrier.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

name

Meaning 2

A surname.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

name

Meaning 3

A small town in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States; from the surname.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A person or object that carries someone or something else.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • armored personnel carrier

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bearer, -phore, translator

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A person or object that carries someone or something else.

Ellipsis of aircraft carrier.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bearer, -phore, translator

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A person or object that carries someone or something else.

Ellipsis of aircraft carrier.

A starship designed to carry starfighters

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bearer, -phore, translator

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A person or object that carries someone or something else.

Ellipsis of carrier bag.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bearer, -phore, translator

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A carrier pigeon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A person or company in the business of shipping freight.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

A signal such as radio, sound, or light that is modulated to transmit information.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

A mobile network operator; wireless carrier.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: communications, electrical-engineering, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, telecommunications

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

A certified airline.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

That which drives or carries.

A piece which communicates to an object in a lathe the motion of the faceplate; a lathe dog.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

That which drives or carries.

A spool holder or bobbin holder in a braiding machine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

noun

Meaning 15

That which drives or carries.

A movable piece in magazine guns which transfers the cartridge to a position from which it can be thrust into the barrel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

noun

Meaning 16

That which drives or carries.

A movable piece in a planetary gear train.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spider, arm

Antonyms: none provided

17

noun

Meaning 17

That which drives or carries.

Part of a differential gear assembly that holds gears and their bearings.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: especially

Topics: automotive, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, transport, vehicles

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

18

noun

Meaning 18

A catalyst or other intermediary in a chemical reaction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

19

noun

Meaning 19

A person or other organism that has a genetic trait, mutation or infection liable to cause a disease, but displays no symptoms.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, genetics, medicine, natural-sciences, pathology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

20

noun

Meaning 20

A charge carrier.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, electronics, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

21

noun

Meaning 21

A liquid or gas used as a medium for another substance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: art, arts, business, manufacturing

Examples

  • Linseed oil is often used as the carrier for pigment in oil painting.
  • inert carrier gas

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

22

noun

Meaning 22

Synonym of English Carrier.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: English Carrier

Antonyms: none provided

23

noun

Meaning 23

(genetics) an organism that possesses a recessive gene whose effect is masked by a dominant allele; the associated trait is not apparent but can be passed on to offspring

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: organism, being

24

noun

Meaning 24

a large warship that carries planes and has a long flat deck for takeoffs and landings

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: aircraft carrier, flattop, attack aircraft carrier

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: warship, war vessel, combat ship

25

noun

Meaning 25

a rack attached to a vehicle; for carrying luggage or skis or the like

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rack

Narrower terms: bomb rack, luggage carrier, luggage rack, roof rack, ski rack

26

noun

Meaning 26

a self-propelled wheeled vehicle designed specifically to carry something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • refrigerated carriers have revolutionized the grocery business

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: self-propelled vehicle

27

noun

Meaning 27

a person or firm in the business of transporting people or goods or messages

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: common carrier

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: business, concern, business concern, business organization, business organisation

Narrower terms: line

28

noun

Meaning 28

(medicine) a person (or animal) who has some pathogen to which he is immune but who can pass it on to others

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: immune carrier

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: vector, transmitter, immune

Narrower terms: Mallon, Mary Mallon, Typhoid Mary

29

noun

Meaning 29

a boy who delivers newspapers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: newsboy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deliveryman, delivery boy, deliverer

30

noun

Meaning 30

someone whose employment involves carrying something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the bonds were transmitted by carrier

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bearer, toter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: traveler, traveller

31

noun

Meaning 31

a man who delivers the mail

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mailman, postman, mail carrier, letter carrier

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deliveryman, delivery boy, deliverer

32

noun

Meaning 32

a radio wave that can be modulated in order to transmit a signal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carrier wave

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: radio wave, radio emission, radio radiation

33

noun

Meaning 33

an inactive substance that is a vehicle for a radioactive tracer of the same substance and that assists in its recovery after some chemical reaction

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: chemical, chemical substance

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

99 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: но́сьбіт (nósʹbit) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Bulgarian: носа́ч (nosáč) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Bulgarian: превозва́ч (prevozváč) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Catalan: portador — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Chinese Mandarin: 攜帶者 /携带者 (xiédàizhě) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Czech: nosič — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Dutch: drager — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Finnish: kantaja — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Finnish: tukialus — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Finnish: kuljetusväline — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Galician: transportista — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • German: Träger — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Greek: μεταφορέας (metaforéas) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Greek: κομιστής (komistís) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Hindi: कहार (kahār) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Ingrian: kantaja — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Central Kurdish: باربەر (barber) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Macedonian: носач (nosač) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Macedonian: амал (amal) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Māori: kaitiki — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Ottoman Turkish: حمال (hamal, hammal) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Polish: nośnik — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Portuguese: carregador — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Portuguese: portador — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Russian: носи́тель (nosítelʹ) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Russian: носи́тельница (nosítelʹnica) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Russian: носи́льщик (nosílʹščik) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Scottish Gaelic: neach-giùlain — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Slovak: nosič — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Spanish: transportista — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Swahili: mchukuzi — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Turkish: hamal — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Ukrainian: носі́й (nosíj) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Ukrainian: носи́тель (nosýtelʹ) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Yiddish: טרעגער (treger) — person or object that carries someone or something else
  • Arabic: نَاقِل (nāqil) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Belarusian: пераво́знік (pjeravóznik) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Belarusian: пераво́зчык (pjeravózčyk) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Bulgarian: превозва́ч (prevozváč) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Czech: dopravce — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Dutch: vervoerder — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Finnish: kuljetustoimisto — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Finnish: kuljetusyritys — company in the business of shipping freight
  • German: Frachtunternehmen — company in the business of shipping freight
  • German: Transportunternehmen — company in the business of shipping freight
  • German: Versanddienstleister — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Greek: μεταφορέας (metaforéas) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Macedonian: шпедите́р (špeditér) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Macedonian: превозник (prevoznik) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Portuguese: transportadora — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Russian: перево́зчик (perevózčik) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Slovak: dopravca — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Spanish: compañía de transportes — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Spanish: empresa de transportes — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Ukrainian: переві́зник (perevíznyk) — company in the business of shipping freight
  • Portuguese: operadora — mobile network operator
  • Russian: оператор (operator) — mobile network operator
  • Arabic: مَوْجَة حامِلة (mawja ḥāmila) — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Bulgarian: носи́тел (nosítel) — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Catalan: portadora — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Czech: nosný signál — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Finnish: kantoaalto — signal modulated to transmit information
  • French: porteuse — signal modulated to transmit information
  • German: Trägersignal — signal modulated to transmit information
  • German: Träger — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Greek: φορέας (foréas) — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Macedonian: преносител (prenositel) — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Polish: nośnik — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Portuguese: portadora — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Romanian: semnal purtător — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Russian: несу́щий сигна́л (nesúščij signál) — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Russian: несу́щая частота́ (nesúščaja častotá) — signal modulated to transmit information
  • Arabic: حَامِل (ḥāmil) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Arabic: حَمَلَة (ḥamala) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Bulgarian: преноси́тел (prenosítel) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Catalan: portador — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Catalan: portadora — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Chinese Mandarin: 攜帶者 /携带者 (xiédàizhě) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Choctaw: abeka shali — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Czech: bacilonosič — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Dutch: drager — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Finnish: taudinkantaja — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Georgian: მატარებელი (maṭarebeli) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • German: Überträger — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Greek: φορέας (foréas) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Hebrew: נשא (nasa') — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Hebrew: נשאית (nasa'it) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Macedonian: пренесувач (prenesuvač) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Macedonian: преносител (prenositel) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Māori: kaitītaritari — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Polish: nosiciel — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Polish: nosicielka — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Portuguese: portador — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Russian: носи́тель (nosítelʹ) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Russian: перено́счик (perenósčik) — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Slovak: bacilonosič — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Spanish: portador — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Spanish: portadora — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
  • Thai: พาหะ — person or organism that has inherited a trait or disease but displays no symptoms
Real reading context

carrier in complete knowledge articles