Flier or Flyer: The Difference Explained

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Flier or Flyer image

These two words sound the same, but do they have the same meaning?

The debate of whether to use “flier” or “flyer” is an illustration of variant spellings that have evolved in parallel over time. Other examples are:

  • Gray and grey
  • Traveling and travelling
  • Judgment and judgement

How do you know which one to use? Your style guide may or may not help you; AP prefers “flyer,” for example, while the Chicago Manual is mum. But fear not—you can always count on a dictionary to show standard and alternate spellings.

Flier or Flyer

Like many publishers, TCK relies on Merriam-Wester’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary and its online analog. So let’s take a look.

Turns out they’re both correct—in different settings.

Flier

Webster’s says that “flier” is the preferred spelling for people or things that fly: airplanes, squirrels, and business travelers.

  • I’ve enrolled in a frequent-flier program.
  • My mom has always been a nervous flier.

“Flier” also refers to a gamble or risk; it’s generally combined with “take”:

  • The team took a flier on the left-handed pitcher despite his spotty record.
  • The boss took a flier and hired the inexperienced student.

Flyer

In the same entry, Webster’s says that “flyer” refers to a leaflet, pamphlet, or circular.

  • The theater troupe handed out flyers to advertise their performance.
  • The new restaurant mailed flyers to neighboring residents.

When In Doubt, Go With Flyer

Although Merriam-Webster makes the distinction between “flier” and “flyer” clear, you can get away with using “flyer” in most situations these days.

This is thanks in large part to the airline industry’s increased use of that spelling in its marketing, allowing us more leniency to use “flyer” to refer to a person on a plane, or to a pamphlet offering a reward for a lost dog.

Questions? Comments? Profound thoughts? We’d love to hear them. Feel free to enter your remarks below. 

Learn more about using words correctly: