# carrier

/ˈkæɹiɝ/ (US) · /kˈæɹɪɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carrier
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. transport company

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The shipping carrier promised that the package would arrive within three business days.
- The contract stipulates that the common carrier is liable for any damage incurred during transit, provided the goods were packed correctly.

### 2. airline

noun · CEFR B2

a company that provides regular flights for passengers or cargo.

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

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

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The aircraft carrier stayed in the middle of the ocean for several months.
- The fleet was led by a nuclear-powered carrier, capable of launching dozens of fighter jets within minutes of an alert.

### 4. phone provider

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a company that provides mobile phone and internet service.

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

- I need to check if my phone is compatible with a local carrier before I travel.
- Major wireless carriers are competing fiercely to expand their 5G infrastructure across rural areas to capture new market segments.

### 5. disease vector

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- Some people are healthy carriers of the virus and don't know they are spreading it.
- Epidemiologists identified several asymptomatic carriers who had unknowingly facilitated the rapid spread of the infection through the community.

### 6. plastic bag

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

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

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

- Do you need a carrier bag for these groceries, or did you bring your own?
- The government introduced a mandatory charge for plastic carrier bags to encourage shoppers to use reusable alternatives.

### 7. signal or medium

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a wave or substance that carries information or another material.

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

- The radio station uses a high-frequency carrier to send the music to your car.
- In gas chromatography, an inert carrier gas such as helium is used to move the sample through the column for analysis.

## Examples

- The mail carrier delivers letters to our house every morning.
- The airline is the largest low-cost carrier in the region, serving over fifty different cities.
- Public health officials identified several asymptomatic carriers who had unknowingly facilitated the spread of the virus throughout the local community during the holiday season.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.