parcel

American  

[pahr-suhl] / ˈpɑr səl /

noun

1. an object, article, container, or quantity of something wrapped or packed up; small package; bundle.

2. a quantity or unit of something, as of a commodity for sale; lot.

3. a group, collection, or assemblage of persons or things.

   Synonyms:

   assortment, batch

4. a distinct, continuous portion or tract of land.

5. a part, portion, or fragment.

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verb (used with object)

parceled, parceling, parcelled, parcelling

1. to divide into or distribute in parcels or portions (usually followed byout ).

   Synonyms:

   allot, deal, apportion, mete

2. to make into a parcel or wrap as a parcel.

3. Nautical. to cover or wrap (a rope) with strips of canvas.

adverb

1. Archaic. in part; partially.

parcel British  

/ ˈpɑːsəl /

noun

1. something wrapped up; package

2. a group of people or things having some common characteristic

3. a quantity of some commodity offered for sale; lot

4. a distinct portion of land

5. an essential part of something (esp in the phrase part and parcel )

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verb

1. (often foll by up) to make a parcel of; wrap up

2. (often foll by out) to divide (up) into portions

3. nautical to bind strips of canvas around (a rope)

adverb

1. an archaic word for partly

parcel Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing parcel

• part and parcel

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Synonym Usage

See package.

Other Word Forms

• unparceled
  adjective
• unparceling
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of parcel

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French parcelle, from unattested Late Latin particella, fresh formation for Latin particula; see particle, passel

Explanation

A parcel is a part of something, or a division. It can also be a package or a collection of things wrapped together. Parcel comes from the Anglo-Norman word for "part." Often when we use parcel to mean a part, we're talking about land, which is divided into definable (and purchasable) tracts. As a verb, parcel means to divide something into parts, just as after trick-or-treating you might parcel your candy stash into piles of chocolates, peppermints, or toffees. If you're selling the family farm, you might parcel it into four small plots.

Example Sentences

It has prompted criticism of county officials who some say should have stepped in earlier to prevent the sale of the parcel in the first place.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Country music legend Sheryl Crow is offloading a small slice of her extravagant Nashville estate for $1.8 million—more than a decade after adding the 2.2-acre parcel to her longtime Tennessee compound.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

The county’s estimate of the cost by parcel is actually higher: between $85,000 and $134,000, depending on a property’s location and topography.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

James said: "When the first gift came, we thought it was nice for someone to do that, but since then it's been parcel after parcel."

From BBC • May 5, 2026

If the nosy neighbor weren't here, Mrs. de Vries would insist on inspecting the contents of the parcel.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• bundle
• carton
• package
• packet