packing

noun

pack·​ing ˈpa-kiŋ 

1

a

: the action or process of packing something

also : a method of packing

b

: the processing of food and especially meat for future sale

2

: material (such as a covering or stuffing) used to protect packed goods (as for shipping)

also : material used for making airtight or watertight

packing for a faucet

3

US politics : a form of gerrymandering in which election districts are drawn in such a way that voters likely to support the opposing party are concentrated into a single district to limit the influence of their votes in other districts

… it calculates the impact of the two mechanisms that create gerrymandering. The first of these is "packing," which means one side's votes have been overconcentrated so they win by huge margins in a small number of districts (creating a surplus of votes).

—G. Terry Madonna and Michael Young

compare cracking sense 2

Examples of packing in a Sentence

We finished all our packing yesterday.

I used some old newspapers for packing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than spending their time packing, unpacking, and setting up the tent, a family with kids can get straight to gathering around a fire or challenging each other to ever-lengthening cold plunges in the spa. —Naomi Tomky, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026

Dokotoo Pullover Sweater Of course, no packing list is complete without a sundress, and this flattering Grace Karin maxi is hard to beat. —Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026

Consider these the deals that prove comfort and smart packing don't require serious spending. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026

Employees who view themselves as long-term stakeholders often bring a different level of attention to the details of a move, from protective packing to careful transportation and final placement inside the new home. —Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing packing

• court packing
• packing crate
• packing peanuts
• packing them in
• send packing

Rhymes for packing

• backing
• blacking
• clacking
• cracking
• hacking
• jacking
• lacking
• racking
• sacking
• slacking
• smacking
• snacking

Medical Definition

packing

noun

pack·​ing ˈpak-iŋ 

1

: the therapeutic application of a pack

hemorrhage … could not be controlled by suture or packing

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

2

: the material used in packing