1
: a tract or plot of land
a parcel of real estate
2
a
: a wrapped bundle : package
The parcel was shipped today.
b
: a unit of salable merchandise
a parcel in an auction
3
: a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or things : lot
The whole story was a parcel of lies.
a parcel of giddy young kids—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
parceled or parcelled; parceling or parcelling
ˈpär-s(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to divide into parts : distribute
—often used with out
2
: to make up into a parcel : wrap
3
: to cover (something, such as a rope) with strips of canvas or tape
Synonyms
Examples of parcel in a Sentence
Noun
a parcel of real estate
her absurd explanation for the collision was a parcel of lies
Recent Examples on the WebSarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
Similarly, Seritage Growth Properties, which owns the easternmost parcel at UTC where Sears used to be, has also been shopping for a buyer for its real estate.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
If granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this designation would provide funding for the federal government to buy parcels of land that would be protected permanently.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
For over a decade, developer Forrest Linebarger has tried to build new multifamily housing on two half-acre parcels in Los Altos Hills.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
After further discussion with the developers, the commission unanimously denied rezoning the parcel.
—Archer Guanco, Daniel Schoenherr, Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024
Nestled atop a 1-acre parcel of land, within an exclusive gated enclave offering tunnel access to Paradise Cove Beach, the property was completed in the early 1970s and has since been remodeled.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
Featuring walls of glass that connect outdoor and indoor living, the house offers stunning views of the surrounding canyon and sits on a 1.35-acre parcel down a gated, long driveway.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
The thief shuffles to the front porch, moves over a small package, then pulls the parcel inside of the bag, the video shows.
—Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Quanta Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023
According to Pam Fechter, city’s planning and economic development coordinator, the new owners are renovating the space and may be parceling the building off for multiple tenants.
—Jshortavon, cleveland, 23 July 2023
During an event like ArkFuture, perfect operation of a dam would take the total inflow, which comes in peaks and troughs, and parcel it out evenly.
—Christopher Cox Spencer Lowell, New York Times, 22 June 2023
Rumors began floating last fall that McCall, who has been at the helm of ITV since 2018, was considering selling off the conglomerate or potentially parceling some of it off.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 1 Mar. 2023
This week’s auction is part of an ambitious schedule by the Biden administration to parcel out ocean blocks for new wind farms to ring the nation’s coastlines.
—Jennifer Hiller, WSJ, 6 Dec. 2022
The information cloud is going to be there, and someone will parcel and claim it.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2013
Decisions that were made to parcel out PPEs based on population rather than community need also were scrutinized.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. 2022
Typically in the last quarter of the year, cargo carriers from container lines to parcel operators bulk up their profits on strong demand.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2022
Amy Dobson, Forbes, 6 Apr. 2021
While parcel demand for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday retail peaks was higher than expected, the threat of industrial action caused customers to divert holiday packages to other companies, Royal Mail said in a statement.
—Anthony Palazzo, Bloomberg.com, 29 Apr. 2020
Noun
Two of the parcels—which together total 27 acres—encompass the 106 yards of sauropod tracks, known as the West Gold Hill Dinosaur Track site.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
Similarly, Seritage Growth Properties, which owns the easternmost parcel at UTC where Sears used to be, has also been shopping for a buyer for its real estate.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
If granted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this designation would provide funding for the federal government to buy parcels of land that would be protected permanently.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
For over a decade, developer Forrest Linebarger has tried to build new multifamily housing on two half-acre parcels in Los Altos Hills.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
After further discussion with the developers, the commission unanimously denied rezoning the parcel.
—Archer Guanco, Daniel Schoenherr, Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024
Nestled atop a 1-acre parcel of land, within an exclusive gated enclave offering tunnel access to Paradise Cove Beach, the property was completed in the early 1970s and has since been remodeled.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
Featuring walls of glass that connect outdoor and indoor living, the house offers stunning views of the surrounding canyon and sits on a 1.35-acre parcel down a gated, long driveway.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
The thief shuffles to the front porch, moves over a small package, then pulls the parcel inside of the bag, the video shows.
—Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
If that rain is parceled into a handful of giant drops, the variation in when those drops hit your roof will be high; sometimes drops will splatter back to back, and at other times they will be spaced out.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023
According to Pam Fechter, city’s planning and economic development coordinator, the new owners are renovating the space and may be parceling the building off for multiple tenants.
—Jshortavon, cleveland, 23 July 2023
During an event like ArkFuture, perfect operation of a dam would take the total inflow, which comes in peaks and troughs, and parcel it out evenly.
—Christopher Cox Spencer Lowell, New York Times, 22 June 2023
Rumors began floating last fall that McCall, who has been at the helm of ITV since 2018, was considering selling off the conglomerate or potentially parceling some of it off.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 1 Mar. 2023
This week’s auction is part of an ambitious schedule by the Biden administration to parcel out ocean blocks for new wind farms to ring the nation’s coastlines.
—Jennifer Hiller, WSJ, 6 Dec. 2022
The information cloud is going to be there, and someone will parcel and claim it.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2013
Decisions that were made to parcel out PPEs based on population rather than community need also were scrutinized.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. 2022
Typically in the last quarter of the year, cargo carriers from container lines to parcel operators bulk up their profits on strong demand.
—Paul Berger, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2022
Adjective
The current record, of $147 million, was for a multi-parcel purchase by investor Barry Rosenstein.
—Amy Dobson, Forbes, 6 Apr. 2021
While parcel demand for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday retail peaks was higher than expected, the threat of industrial action caused customers to divert holiday packages to other companies, Royal Mail said in a statement.
—Anthony Palazzo, Bloomberg.com, 29 Apr. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parcel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near parcel
Cite this Entry
“Parcel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parcel. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parcel
2 of 2 verb
parceled or parcelled; parceling or parcelling
ˈpär-s(ə-)liŋ
1
: to divide into parts : distribute
2
: to wrap up into a parcel
Legal Definition
parcel
noun
par·cel
ˈpär-səl
: a tract or plot of land
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