variants or less commonly flyer
Synonyms of fliernext
1
: one that flies
She's a frequent flier on that airline.
specifically : airman
He was a flier on an aircraft carrier.
2
: a reckless or speculative venture
—usually used in the phrase take a flier
He took a flier in politics soon after getting his degree.
3
usually flyer : an advertising circular
Flyers announcing the concert were distributed throughout the city.

Examples of flier in a Sentence

These birds are graceful fliers. They distributed flyers announcing the concert throughout the city.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But even if fuel prices suddenly drop, fliers might not see airfare reductions for months. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Oct. 2026 Membership programs For more frequent fliers, membership programs can be attractive. — Debra Kamin, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026 The agency can hold community meetings or disperse fliers to warn neighbors about the potential risk. — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 Those premium fliers are the customers Delta’s rivals are courting with Starlink. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flier

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flier was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flier. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

flier

noun
fli·​er
variants also flyer
ˈflī(-ə)r
1
: one that flies
especially : pilot entry 1 sense 3
2
: an undertaking (as in business) that involves much risk
3
: an advertising circular
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster