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Meaning & use

carrier

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈkæriə/
US/ˈkæriər/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A person, company, or vehicle that transports goods, passengers, or information from place to place.

    Grammar: Countable: a carrier, the carrier, carriers.

    Patterns

    • a carrier of something
    • a carrier for someone
    • by carrier

    The airline is the largest carrier in the region.

    We sent the package by a private carrier.

    The company is a major carrier of fresh produce.

  2. nouncountablemedical

    A person or animal that transmits a disease-causing organism or gene without being affected by it.

    Grammar: Countable: a carrier, carriers.

    Patterns

    • a carrier of a disease
    • a carrier for a genetic condition
    • a carrier of the virus

    Mosquitoes are carriers of malaria.

    She is a carrier of the cystic fibrosis gene.

    The test showed he was a carrier but had no symptoms.

  3. nouncountabletechnical

    A company that provides telephone or internet services.

    Grammar: Countable: a carrier, carriers.

    Patterns

    • a mobile carrier
    • a network carrier
    • switch carriers

    My mobile carrier charges extra for international calls.

    They switched carriers to get a better data plan.

  4. nouncountable

    A frame or device used to hold or support something.

    Grammar: Countable: a carrier, carriers.

    Patterns

    • a bicycle carrier
    • a roof carrier
    • a baby carrier

    We attached a bike carrier to the back of the car.

    She put the baby in a front carrier.

Word forms

pluralcarriers

Common combinations

aircraft carrier
The navy sent an aircraft carrier to the region.
carrier bag
She packed the groceries into a carrier bag.
carrier pigeon
They sent messages by carrier pigeon.
disease carrier
The mosquito is a well-known disease carrier.

Synonyms and how they differ

transporter
More formal and often used for vehicles or companies that move goods; 'carrier' is broader.
courier
A person or company that delivers messages or packages quickly; 'carrier' can also mean a large transport company.

Word family

carry verb
To hold and move something.
carriage noun
A vehicle for carrying people, or the act of transporting goods.

Commonly confused: carrier or career?

carrier vs career

A job or profession; 'carrier' is a person or thing that carries.

Practice

In medicine, a carrier is someone who:

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