backpack

American  

[bak-pak] / ˈbækˌpæk /

noun

backpacks plural

1. a pack or knapsack, often of canvas or nylon, to be carried on one's back, sometimes supported on a lightweight metal frame strapped to the body.

2. a piece of equipment designed to be used while being carried on the back.

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verb (used without object)

backpacks, present (3rd person singular) backpacked, past participle, past backpacking present participle

1. to go on a hike, using a backpack.

   We went backpacking in the Adirondacks.

verb (used with object)

backpacks, present (3rd person singular) backpacked, past participle, past backpacking present participle

1. to place or carry in a backpack or on one's back.

backpack British  

/ ˈbækˌpæk /

noun

1. a rucksack or knapsack

2. a pack carried on the back of an astronaut, containing oxygen cylinders, essential supplies, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to travel about or go hiking with a backpack

2. (tr) to transport (food or equipment) by backpack

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• backpacker
  noun
• backpacking
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• backpacks
  plural

Participles

• backpacking
  present
• backpacked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• backpack
  simple
• backpacks
  simple
• have backpacked
  perfect
• has backpacked
  perfect
• am backpacking
  progressive
• are backpacking
  progressive
• is backpacking
  progressive
• have been backpacking
  perfect progressive
• has been backpacking
  perfect progressive

Past

• backpacked
  simple
• had backpacked
  perfect
• was backpacking
  progressive
• were backpacking
  progressive
• had been backpacking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will backpack
  simple
• will have backpacked
  perfect
• will be backpacking
  progressive
• will have been backpacking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of backpack

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; back ¹ + pack ¹

Explanation

A backpack is a bag you wear on your back, with straps over your shoulders. Lots of kids carry their books to school in a backpack. A hiker might carry a heavy backpack for miles, with food and a folded tent inside, while a kindergartner's backpack will be much smaller, and may have a cartoon character on it. You can also call this portable kind of bag a rucksack. If you hike with a backpack, you go backpacking, and you can call yourself a backpacker. The word's been around since the earliest 20th century.

Example Sentences

In the video, the man was wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker backpack, according to the FBI.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

“I’m with my backpack all the time,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026

Retailers watch carefully as consumers might gravitate to a “ $90 backpack versus that $30 backpack,” said Matthews, the NRF economist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026

"He sat down for a rest with his backpack, these guys carry huge loads," he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

I catch the stray backpack strap with the sole of my decidedly less glamorous sneaker and drag it out of the aisle.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• knapsack