purse

American  

[purs] / pɜrs /

noun

1. handbag.

2. Also called change purse.  a small bag, pouch, or case for carrying money.

3. anything resembling a purse in appearance, use, etc.

4. a sum of money offered as a prize or reward.

5. a sum of money collected as a present or the like.

6. money, resources, or wealth.

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verb (used with object)

purses, present (3rd person singular) pursed, past participle, past pursing present participle

1. to contract into folds or wrinkles; pucker.

   to purse one's lips.

2. to put into a purse.

purse British  

/ pɜːs /

noun

1. a small bag or pouch, often made of soft leather, for carrying money, esp coins

2. a woman's handbag

3. anything resembling a small bag or pouch in form or function

4. wealth; funds

5. a sum of money that is offered, esp as a prize

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verb

1. (tr) to contract (the mouth, lips, etc) into a small rounded shape

purse Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing purse

• can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• purselike
  adjective
• purseless
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have pursed
  perfect
• has pursed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is pursing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been pursing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am pursing
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been pursing
  perfect progressive
• are pursing
  progressive
• pursing
  participle
• purses
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had pursed
  perfect
• was pursing
  progressive singular
• had been pursing
  perfect progressive
• were pursing
  progressive plural
• pursed
  participle
• pursed
  simple

Future

• will purse
  simple
• will have pursed
  perfect
• will have been pursing
  perfect progressive
• will be pursing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of purse

First recorded before 1100; (noun) Middle English, Old English purs, blend of pusa “bag” (cognate with Old Norse posi ) and Medieval Latin bursa “bag” (ultimately from Greek býrsa “hide, leather”); (verb) Middle English pursen “to put in a purse,” derivative of the noun

Explanation

Though purses are mostly carried by women, this is the kind of purse anyone would love to bring home: it's a prize, usually consisting of money. The most common meaning of purse, as a woman's bag, can definitely help you remember the "prize" meaning of purse, because a woman who won a purse could carry her winnings in a purse. The non-bag type of purse is usually associated with sporting events: boxers and jockeys win purses. Other times, purse is used to describe money won in another context, like a photography contest. Another meaning is totally different: if you pucker or contract your lips, you're pursing them.

Example Sentences

A cancer-patient assistance program called Verna’s Purse helped hold storage costs to a few hundred dollars a year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Franklin Graham’s organization Samaritan’s Purse link has reported donating to The Fellowship, but at the C Street address.

From Salon • May 29, 2026

The aid would be distributed through Catholic Relief Services and Samaritan's Purse, an evangelical Protestant charity, and not handed over directly to the Cuban government, he said.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Some are missionary groups such as United Bible Societies, whose primary activity globally is translating and distributing bibles, and Samaritan’s Purse, a U.S.-based evangelical group that provides medical care and other emergency services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

Privy Purse, succession of able men who have acted as, 281; distinction between, and Privy Seal, 281.

From Social Transformations of the Victorian Age A Survey of Court and Country by Escott, T. H. S. (Thomas Hay Sweet)

Related Words

• bag
• handbag
• pocket
• pocketbook
• pouch
• wallet