passel
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of passel
First recorded in 1825–35; alteration of parcel
Explanation
You can use the noun passel when you're talking about a group or a bunch of something. Your friends might decide to hire a bus to drive a whole passel of kids to an amusement park. The informal passel is a great way to talk about a large but vague number of things or people, like a passel of cousins at Thanksgiving or a passel of puppies at the local animal shelter. Passel is a nineteenth century invention, a U.S. dialect version of parcel, "quantity, part, or portion."
Vocabulary lists containing passel
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Wish
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Spunk" by Zora Neale Hurston
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Then he secretly purchases a passel of tortoises; constructs a long-handled grabber; leans down from his balcony; extracts Alfie; and, each week, substitutes a slightly heavier impostor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026
Yes, these Dodgers could be better than a group that produced two MVPs, two World Series MVPs, and a passel of All-Star appearances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
Affordable, capable, and practical, the subcompact 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is also a passel of fun.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 26, 2025
First, the attorney general could not unilaterally throw the entire mass of non-grand jury Epstein evidence into the public domain, at least not without violating a passel of statutes and DOJ internal rules and norms.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025
Can’t I have an upset stummick without you firin’ a passel of questions at me?”
From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt
Definitions 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.
