package
Americannoun
-
packages
plural
-
a bundle of something, usually of small or medium size, that is packed and wrapped or boxed; parcel.
-
a container, as a box or case, in which something is or may be packed.
- Synonyms:
- carton
-
something conceived of as a compact unit having particular characteristics.
That child is a package of mischief.
-
the packing of goods, freight, etc.
-
a finished product contained in a unit that is suitable for immediate installation and operation, as a power or heating unit.
-
a group, combination, or series of related parts or elements to be accepted or rejected as a single unit.
-
a complete program produced for the theater, television, etc., or a series of these, sold as a unit.
verb (used with object)
-
packages,
present (3rd person singular)
-
packaged,
past participle, past
-
packaging
present participle
-
to make or put into a package.
-
to design and manufacture a package for (a product or series of related products).
They package their soaps in eye-catching wrappers.
-
to group or combine (a series of related parts) into a single unit.
-
to combine the various elements of (a tour, entertainment, etc.) for sale as a unit.
noun
-
any wrapped or boxed object or group of objects
-
-
a proposition, offer, or thing for sale in which separate items are offered together as a single or inclusive unit
-
( as modifier )
a package holiday
a package deal
-
-
a complete unit consisting of a number of component parts sold separately
-
the act or process of packing or packaging
-
computing a set of programs designed for a specific type of problem in statistics, production control, etc, making it unnecessary for a separate program to be written for each problem
-
another word for pack 1
verb
-
to wrap in or put into a package
-
to design and produce a package for (retail goods)
-
to group (separate items) together as a single unit
-
to compile (complete books) for a publisher to market
Synonym Usage
Package, pack, packet, parcel refer to a bundle or to something fastened together. A package is a bundle of things packed and wrapped: a package from the drugstore. A pack is a large bundle or bale of things put or fastened together, usually wrapped up or in a bag, case, etc., to be carried by a person or a beast of burden: a peddler's pack. A packet, originally a package of letters or dispatches, is a small package or bundle: a packet of gems. A parcel is an object or objects wrapped up to form a single, small bundle: a parcel containing two dresses.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
subpackagenoun
-
mispackageverb (used with object)
-
mispackagedadjective
-
packageableadjective
-
unpackagedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
packagesimple
-
packagessimple
-
have packagedperfect
-
has packagedperfect
-
am packagingprogressive
-
are packagingprogressive
-
is packagingprogressive
-
have been packagingperfect progressive
-
has been packagingperfect progressive
Past
-
packagedsimple
-
had packagedperfect
-
was packagingprogressive
-
were packagingprogressive
-
had been packagingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of package
First recorded in 1605–15, package is from the Dutch word pakkage “baggage.” See pack 1, -age
Explanation
A package is a wrapped bundle or a container of something. If you order new socks online, they'll be delivered to your door in a package a few days later. A package might be wrapped in colorful wrapping paper, or it may simply be a container that holds an item or a collection of them, like a package of peppermints. To package is to enclose something in a box or other container: "You should package your brownies and sell them at the farmer's market!" Package stems either from the noun pack, or possibly from the Dutch pakkage, or "baggage."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Lisa bought a second-hand jacket online, but snipped the fabric with the scissors when she was opening the package.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
UK ministers said that rail funding was part of a £445m package that had been announced at the last Spending Review.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Lagarde herself was a surprise pick for the ECB job, agreed as part of a last-minute package deal that saw Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen ascend to European Commission president.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
The State Department notified Congress of the military aid package in January about a month after the deportation deal was struck, some of the officials and aides said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
Incredibly, Powell, thanks to the little package he showed as a prop, had still not created suspicion about his true intentions.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
The store would bring each day’s packages to American Messenger’s office, where they would be combined for delivery with those of one-off customers paying higher rates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
The chip maker needs to continue rolling out products, raising prices and offering attractive financing packages, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
In response, the company announced a new five-billion-kronor savings plan it said would lead to about 2,000 job cuts in Sweden and 500 more globally, "through natural attrition and by targeted exit packages to employees".
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
In their role as executors, Indyke and Kahn agreed to fund compensation packages for survivors that included conditions that prevented survivors who accepted funds from taking further legal action against them personally.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
When the kids opened their packages, they each found a key chain with a small furry toy hamster attached.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
You can discover who owns the company that packaged your broccoli, though what to do with that information is another matter.
From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2026
They appear in everything from soft drinks and candy to desserts, packaged snacks, and breakfast cereals, often providing sweetness with fewer calories than traditional sugar.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
But because the leverage is long term and the product is packaged in an ETF, it might seem less risky to potential buyers.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 10, 2026
Mortgage-backed securities are essentially home loans packaged into bonds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
It was literally the dust of the meat, the bits that fell off the cuts being packaged for the shop, the bits of fat and whatever’s left.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Companies including Target, Apple and Home Depot are working to stay ahead of the scammers, updating packaging, retraining store clerks and advising shoppers on where to check their balances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
The facility combines inventory storage, mobile robots, robotic arms and packaging technology.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
Some costumes sell for as little as £1.50, she said, while items still in their original packaging are often priced at about a quarter of their retail value.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
San Francisco public health officials said the Script botanicals x Maui labs product packaging did not make a reference to kratom or 7-OH; however, neither were associated with the overdose death.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Pens and pencils packed a dozen each in flimsy cardboard packaging with retro fonts and design.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
