handbag

[hand-bag]

noun

1. a bag or box of leather, fabric, plastic, or the like, held in the hand or carried by means of a handle or strap, commonly used for holding money, personal grooming items, small purchases, etc.

2. valise.

handbag

/ ˈhændˌbæɡ /

noun

1. Also called: bag.  purse.  pocketbook. a woman's small bag carried to contain personal articles

2. a small suitcase that can be carried by hand

3. a commercial style of House music

Word History and Origins

Origin of handbag¹

First recorded in 1860–65; hand + bag

Word History and Origins

Origin of handbag¹

(for sense 3) C20: humorous allusion to the trend for groups of women to dance round their handbags in discos, nightclubs, etc

Example Sentences

A conservative who favors blue jackets and a roomy handbag, she vowed on taking office to “work like a horse” to revitalize Japan’s economy and burnish the country’s global prestige.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She also was accused of spending $1 million on luxury handbags and high-flying travel and illegally declaring them as business expenses on her tax returns.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a recent podcast appearance, Kennedy’s wife, the actress Cheryl Hines, said he brings his own sauerkraut to restaurants—and asks her to carry it in her handbag.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But retail spaces, especially those selling fancy handbags and designer clothing, are changing the way they approach luring in would-be shoppers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"It's just hype - it's a trend, a bit like fashion - if everyone buys the same handbag it becomes popular and I'd say it's the same for aesthetics."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• backpack 
• bag 
• evening bag 
• leather 
• pocketbook 
• purse