swag

¹ American  

[swag] / swæg /

noun

1. a suspended wreath, garland, drapery, or the like, fastened up at or near each end and hanging down in the middle; festoon.

2. a wreath, spray, or cluster of foliage, flowers, or fruit.

3. a festoon, especially one very heavy toward the center.

4. a swale.

5. a swaying or lurching movement.

---

verb (used without object)

swagged, swagging

1. to move heavily or unsteadily from side to side or up and down; sway.

2. to hang loosely and heavily; sink down.

verb (used with object)

swagged, swagging

1. to cause to sway, sink, or sag.

2. to hang or adorn with swags.

swag ² American  

[swag] / swæg /

Also sweg

noun

1. Slang.

   1. plunder; booty.

   2. money; valuables.

   3. free merchandise distributed as part of the promotion of a product, company, etc.

   4. self-confidence and personal style as shown by one's appearance and demeanor.

      the top ten athletes with the most swag.

   5. schwag.

2. Australian. a traveler's bundle containing personal belongings, cooking utensils, food, or the like.

---

adjective

1. Slang. cool; cute; looking great: Check out my swag boyfriend.

   She looks so swag in her new jacket.

   Check out my swag boyfriend.

verb (used without object)

swagged, swagging

1. Australian. to travel about carrying one's bundle of personal belongings.

SWAG ³ American  

[swag] / swæg /

noun

Slang.

1. scientific wild-ass guess: a rough, intuitive estimate made on the spur of the moment by an expert.

---

swag British  

/ swæɡ /

noun

1. slang property obtained by theft or other illicit means

2. slang goods; valuables

3. an ornamental festoon of fruit, flowers, or drapery or a representation of this

4. a swaying movement; lurch

5. dialect a depression filled with water, resulting from mining subsidence

6. informal (formerly) a swagman's pack containing personal belongings

7. informal to become a tramp

8. informal lots of

---

verb

1. to lurch or sag or cause to lurch or sag

2. (tr) to adorn or arrange with swags

3. informal (intr) to tramp about carrying a pack of personal belongings

Etymology

Origin of swag¹

First recorded in 1520–30; perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian svaga, svagga “to sway, rock”

Origin of swag²

First recorded in 1790–1800; special uses of swag ¹

Origin of SWAG³

First recorded in 1965–70

Explanation

Swag refers to valuable goods, often obtained illegally. Just because your friend has a bag of swag does not make him a pirate (although the patch and wooden leg might say otherwise). Generally meaning “loot, booty, or plunder,” swag is the stuff in the bags of excited party-goers and plunderers alike. It can also be a bundle carried by a swagman, an Australian migrant worker or drifter. From the Old Norse (re: Viking) sveggja, meaning “to swing or sway,” the verb swag can mean “to sway unsteadily or stagger.” Your bag of swag may swag from its own weight, and you too may swag just trying to carry it.

Example Sentences

Allu Arjun hailed its "patriotism with swag", Preity Zinta called it "mind-blowing", and veteran Anupam Kher described it as "outstanding" - "a film that makes you feel deeply proud of your country".

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that passed Congress last year has arrived — and it’s bringing more swag than any tax law in recent memory.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

Teenagers on travel teams are rolling into weekend tournaments wearing a few thousand dollars of apparel, equipment and swag.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

Bring a roomy bag for all the swag being handed out, and keep an eye out for deals: many companies sell products at steep discounts rather than ship them home.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

“Aww, man! You sure about that?” asks Sneaky, turning on his businessman swag.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

Related Words

• festoon