flyers

IPA/ˈflaɪ.ər/
KK[flˈaɪɚz]IPA/ˈflaɪ.ɚ/

flyers — noun

  • flyerssingular
  • flyersesplural

1. the American spelling of the plural form 'fliers', used with the same meanings.

1.nounA2
Definition

the American spelling of the plural form 'fliers', used with the same meanings.

Example

The teacher changed fliers to flyers on the New York class poster.

editing for American spelling: fliers -> flyers

The Boston airport lounge sign welcomed frequent flyers in bold blue letters.

common phrase: frequent flyers

Common collocations
  • frequent flyers
  • advertising flyers
Synonyms
  • fliers

    same meanings; this is the alternate plural spelling

Grammar Patterns

flyers not fliers in American spelling

Usage Note

This sense is about spelling, not a separate meaning. American writing strongly prefers flyers, while other varieties may still use fliers in the plural.

Common Mistakes

The brochure uses flyers on page one and fliers on page two.
The brochure uses flyers on both pages.
keep one spelling consistently in the same piece of writing.

2. small printed sheets that advertise an event, business, or idea and are given ou

2.nounB1
Definition

small printed sheets that advertise an event, business, or idea and are given out or posted for many people to read.

Example

Volunteers placed flyers for the food festival in every mailbox on Cedar Street.

flyers for + event

Sana collected the concert flyers from the cafe counter before lunch.

common setting: flyers on a cafe counter

Common collocations
  • hand out flyers
  • promotional flyers
  • concert flyers
  • campaign flyers
Synonyms
  • leaflets

    very close in meaning; leaflet can sound slightly more formal or British

  • handbills

    older or more formal term for sheets handed out in public

  • handouts

    broader term for papers given to people, especially in classes or meetings

  • brochures

    usually glossier and longer than simple flyers

Grammar Patterns

flyers for + event

hand out / print / post + flyers

Usage Note

Often appears with verbs such as print, hand out, post, or remove. Distinguish it from a brochure, which is usually longer and more polished, and from a poster, which is larger and meant for display.

Common Mistakes

The hotel left a thick flyer in every room.
The hotel left a brochure in every room.
a flyer is usually a single loose sheet, not a multi-page booklet.

3. people who travel by plane, and in some contexts people who fly aircraft themsel

3.nounB1
Definition

people who travel by plane, and in some contexts people who fly aircraft themselves.

Example

Frequent flyers earn lounge access after enough long international trips.

set phrase: frequent flyers

Storm warnings kept many flyers on the ground at the small island airport.

flyers on the ground after delays

Common collocations
  • frequent flyers
  • stranded flyers
  • military flyers
  • business flyers
Synonyms
  • air travelers

    broader modern term for people making journeys by plane

  • passengers

    fits the ordinary airline sense, but not the pilot sense

  • aviators

    fits the aircraft-operator sense and sounds more formal

Grammar Patterns

frequent flyers

flyers from + city

military flyers

Usage Note

In everyday modern English, this sense most often refers to airline passengers, especially in the phrase frequent flyers. In military or older writing, it can also refer to people who operate aircraft.

Common Mistakes

The pilot thanked the flyers for steering the plane.
The pilot thanked the passengers for staying calm.
in normal airline contexts, flyers usually means people traveling on the plane, not the crew flying it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

For printed advertising, flyers is a casual everyday word for single sheets used to spread a message quickly. Leaflets is extremely close, but it can sound slightly more formal or slightly more British in tone. Handbills is older and often appears in historical or legal writing about papers passed out in public. Brochures suggests something glossier, better designed, and usually folded or made of several pages, such as hotel or travel material. Posters are different again because they are larger and meant to stay on a wall, not be carried away in a pocket. A student club might hand out flyers for tonight's concert, while a travel fair gives out brochures and hangs posters around the hall.

flyers ↗leaflets ↗handbillsbrochures ↗posters ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Flyers is the regular plural form of flyer. Flyer was built from the verb fly plus the ending -er, first meaning something or someone that moves through the air. Over time it came to name both people connected with flying and printed notices that are spread quickly from hand to hand. The plural flyers is now especially common for advertising sheets and for people who travel by air. In American spelling, flyers is the usual plural form, while fliers remains an alternate spelling.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1