town crier: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “town crier” mean?
A person historically employed to make public announcements in a town, typically by shouting in the streets.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person historically employed to make public announcements in a town, typically by shouting in the streets.
Used metaphorically to refer to someone who spreads news or information loudly and publicly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties but is more culturally ingrained in British English due to historical prevalence and continued use in ceremonies.
Connotations
In both, it connotes tradition and loud proclamation; in American English, it may be perceived as more archaic or quaint.
Frequency
More commonly encountered in British English texts, media, and historical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “town crier” in a Sentence
NP be town criertown crier V NP (e.g., proclaimed the news)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear metaphorically, e.g., 'He's the town crier of office gossip.'
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or cultural studies to describe historical figures or as a metaphor for information dissemination.
Everyday
Not common; if used, it's figurative or in reference to historical reenactments or local traditions.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields; specific to humanities, social history, and cultural commentary.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “town crier”
- Mispronouncing as 'town cryer' with a long 'i' sound; correct is /ˈkraɪə/ or /ˈkraɪɚ/.
- Using in modern literal contexts without historical or figurative sense.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A town crier is a historical figure who made public announcements in towns, often by shouting or using a bell, common before modern communication methods.
Primarily in historical, ceremonial, or figurative contexts; modern equivalents include public address systems or social media influencers.
In British English, pronounce it as /taʊn ˈkraɪə/; in American English, as /taʊn ˈkraɪɚ/.
No, it is standardly a noun only; derived forms like 'to town-cry' are non-standard and rare.
A person historically employed to make public announcements in a town, typically by shouting in the streets.
Town crier is usually historical, literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a town crier (loud and public)”
- “town crier of bad news”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TOWN where someone CRIES out news – that's a TOWN CRIER.
Conceptual Metaphor
A source of loud, public information dissemination, often implying unnecessary or excessive broadcasting.
Practice
Quiz
What is a town crier primarily known for?