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common carrier
noun
: a business or agency that is available to the public for transportation of persons, goods, or messages
Examples of common carrier in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The commission is expected to reclassify internet service providers (ISPs) — e.g., broadband companies like AT&T and Comcast — as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act.
—Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2024
That is a reference to regulating ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act, the authority underpinning the former net neutrality rules.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2023
One benefit, according to the FCC official, is granting the agency greater oversight over internet outages if ISPs are classified as common carriers.
—Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 3 Apr. 2024
The problem with this argument is that social media platforms are not and never have been common carriers that simply transmit everything that is posted.
—Erwin Chemerinsky, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024
Differences on the court emerged over how to think about the platforms — as akin to newspapers that have broad free-speech protections, or telephone companies, known as common carriers, that are susceptible to broader regulation.
—Mark Sherman, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024
Feld argues that without Chevron deference, cable broadband would have been classified as a telecommunications service and subject to common carrier rules all along.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 9 Oct. 2023
The incident prompted fears that many had been exposed to rabies because raccoons are one of the most common carriers of the virus in Maine, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife said in a post published Thursday.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 27 May 2023
Differences on the court Wednesday emerged over how to think about the platforms -- as akin to newspapers that have broad free-speech protections, or telephone companies, known as common carriers that are susceptible to broader regulation.
—Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'common carrier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of common carrier was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near common carrier
Cite this Entry
“Common carrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20carrier. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Legal Definition
common carrier
noun
: a business or agency that is available to the public for transportation of persons, goods, or messages compare contract carrier
More from Merriam-Webster on common carrier
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about common carrier
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