packaging

American  

[pak-uh-jing] / ˈpæk ə dʒɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of packing or forming packages.

   At the end of the production line is a machine for packaging.

2. the package in which merchandise is sold or displayed.

   Attractive packaging can help sell a product.

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packaging British  

/ ˈpækɪdʒɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the box or wrapping in which a product is offered for sale

   2. the design of such a box or wrapping, esp with reference to its ability to attract customers

2. the presentation of a person, product, television programme, etc, to the public in a way designed to build up a favourable image

3. the work of a packager

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Etymology

Origin of packaging

First recorded in 1870–75; package + -ing ¹

Explanation

Packaging is the material used to enclose, protect, and even promote things that are for sale. It’s all about presentation. If you’re having trouble selling lemonade out of an old pickle jar, perhaps you should change the packaging. Walk through a supermarket or a drug store and you'll see many different kinds of packaging, from hard plastic medicine bottles to cardboard cereal boxes and glass jars of spaghetti sauce. You can call the act or business of putting all these items into containers packaging too. There's also a figurative meaning of this noun, "presenting something in a flattering or beneficial way," as in: "The advisors' packaging of the candidate makes him seem much smarter."

Example Sentences

Given higher oil prices, the Indonesian company’s oil-linked costs are mainly reflected in packaging, which accounts for around 20% of its cost of goods sold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

The oil is treated like packaging, something useful only until the last tomato disappears.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

This rating, displayed on product packaging, indicates how much noise the product can reduce.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

Cerebras’ unusually large artificial-intelligence chips excel at running models at speed, while also sidestepping some of the networking and packaging required for connecting thousands of high-end processors from Nvidia or other chip makers.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Despite its handsome packaging, Yu tar’s address was a garbled summary of the prosecution’s case and did not explain the indictment or assess the evidence.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela