flier

noun

fli·​er ˈflī(-ə)r How to pronounce flier (audio)
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.

Synonyms of flier

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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.
Mosquitoes and many other pests are not strong fliers and can be kept away from porches with the addition of a strong fan. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 24 June 2026 Dragonflies are the fastest fliers among insects and can change direction instantly or hover in place. — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026 This story is a roundup of those surprisingly common travel accessories—the things frequent fliers actually rely on when the seat is good, but the experience still isn’t effortless. — Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 The Giants could also try to attach Chapman to the aforementioned Arraez deal, dropping down the return to a flier prospect or two (so just Hampton or Kent). — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 8 July 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

Phrases Containing flier

Rhymes for flier

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Browse Nearby Words

flied
flier
fliffis
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Cite this Entry

“Flier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flier. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on flier

Nglish: Translation of flier for Spanish Speakers

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