From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbearerbear‧er /ˈbeərə $ ˈberər/ noun [countable] 1 CARRY formal someone who carries something such as a flag or a stretcher (=light bed for a sick person)2 MESSAGEsomeone who brings you information, a letter etc I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but ...3 SCL formal the bearer of a legal document, for example a passport, is the person that it officially belongs to4 someone who knows about traditions and customs, and makes sure that younger people learn about them They see themselves as the bearers of Jewish tradition.
Examples from the Corpus
bearer• The numerous men employed as bearers become undertakers, although they have never done anything until they have got the job.• Nothing daunted, the bearers of comfort brought a flagon of ale and a long clay pipe.• So I went myself to see the undertaker, select the bearers, and arrange all the funeral details.• The bearers of the arrows danced once more around the fire and departed.the bearer of bad news• I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think the hot water heaters not working.• He had sufficient cause to suppose that Thomas was only a messenger, merely the bearer of bad news.• Bastian was the bearer of bad news.From Longman Business Dictionarybearerbear‧er /ˈbeərəˈberər/ noun [countable]FINANCE1someone who owns or possesses a document such as a bond, cheque, or a BILL OF EXCHANGEThe firm became suspicious about the bonds and asked the bearer for confirmation.2FINANCE payable to bearer words written on a document to say that the amount of money stated on the document should be paid to the person who has it in their possession, rather than to a named personI took a check marked ‘payable to bearer’ to a bank to cash.3FINANCE bearer bond/cheque/share etc a bond, cheque, share etc that is considered to be owned by or payable to the person who has it in their possession, even though their name may not appear on it or may not be on the official list of owners 