English Reference
noun

carrier

n.
US /ˈkæɹiɝ/ UK /kˈæɹɪɐ/ car·ri·er UK spelling carriers

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a company that moves goods or people from one place to another.

    a person or commercial enterprise in the business of transporting freight or passengers.

    Simple

    The shipping carrier promised that the package would arrive within three business days.

    In context

    The contract stipulates that the common carrier is liable for any damage incurred during transit, provided the goods were packed correctly.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate aviation

    a company that provides regular flights for passengers or cargo.

    a commercial company that provides air transport services for travelling passengers and freight.

    Simple

    The national carrier announced several new routes to Asia this morning.

    In context

    Low-cost carriers have significantly disrupted the aviation market by offering point-to-point services at a fraction of the price of legacy airlines.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a very large warship that acts as a base for planes to take off and land.

    a large warship designed with a flight deck to serve as a seagoing airbase for aircraft.

    Simple

    The aircraft carrier stayed in the middle of the ocean for several months.

    In context

    The fleet was led by a nuclear-powered carrier, capable of launching dozens of fighter jets within minutes of an alert.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate American English Computing

    a company that provides mobile phone and internet service.

    a telecommunications company that provides wireless communication services to mobile phone subscribers.

    Simple

    I need to check if my phone is compatible with a local carrier before I travel.

    In context

    Major wireless carriers are competing fiercely to expand their 5G infrastructure across rural areas to capture new market segments.

    providernetwork operator
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    a person or animal that has a disease and can pass it to others, but does not feel sick themselves.

    an individual who carries a pathogenic microorganism or genetic mutation without showing clinical symptoms, but can transmit it to others.

    Simple

    Some people are healthy carriers of the virus and don't know they are spreading it.

    In context

    Epidemiologists identified several asymptomatic carriers who had unknowingly facilitated the rapid spread of the infection through the community.

  6. 06 B1 Intermediate British English

    a plastic or paper bag with handles used for carrying shopping.

    a shopping bag, typically made of plastic or heavy paper, provided by a retail store.

    Simple

    Do you need a carrier bag for these groceries, or did you bring your own?

    In context

    The government introduced a mandatory charge for plastic carrier bags to encourage shoppers to use reusable alternatives.

    shopping bag
  7. 07 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a wave or substance that carries information or another material.

    a wave, gas, or liquid that serves as a medium for transmitting information or transporting another substance.

    Simple

    The radio station uses a high-frequency carrier to send the music to your car.

    In context

    In gas chromatography, an inert carrier gas such as helium is used to move the sample through the column for analysis.

Usage carrier force

The US carrier left San Diego last November on what was supposed to be a six-month assignment in the Pacific and South China Sea.

BBC News· 2 Sept 2026

The carrier left California in November for the South China Sea and was sent to the Middle East ahead of attacks on Iran in February.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated