crier: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Literary/Historical
Quick answer
What does “crier” mean?
A person who cries or shouts, often in a formal or public capacity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who cries or shouts, often in a formal or public capacity.
A person who makes loud, emotional utterances; historically, a town official who made public announcements; also used to refer to a person (especially a baby) who cries frequently.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used similarly, but the historical role of the 'town crier' is more actively referenced in British culture and heritage contexts.
Connotations
In both, 'town crier' evokes tradition, history, and official announcements. Standalone 'crier' can have a slightly negative connotation (e.g., a whiner).
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, almost entirely tied to the compound 'town crier'.
Grammar
How to Use “crier” in a Sentence
The [town crier] announced [the news].[Crier] of [doom/good tidings].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'He became the town crier for the new policy.'
Academic
Used in historical texts discussing medieval or early modern public communication.
Everyday
Very rare. Mostly in reference to historical reenactments or tourist attractions.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crier”
- Using 'crier' to mean a person who weeps emotionally (this is a secondary, less common meaning).
- Spelling as 'cryer' (archaic variant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, but primarily it means a person who cries out or shouts. The 'crying' in 'town crier' refers to vocal proclamation, not weeping.
No, 'cryer' is an archaic spelling. The standard modern spelling is 'crier'.
Yes, informally (e.g., 'He was a real crier as an infant'), but it's not the most common usage. 'Crier' alone typically refers to the historical role.
Historically, a herald was a higher-ranking officer of arms with diplomatic duties, while a town crier was a local official making public announcements. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably now.
A person who cries or shouts, often in a formal or public capacity.
Crier is usually formal/literary/historical in register.
Crier: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a town crier (for)”
- “cry like a town crier”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CRIER' as 'CRY' + '-ER' (a person who cries out announcements).
Conceptual Metaphor
PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION IS SHOUTING (The town crier shouts the news).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern use of the word 'crier'?