packaging

noun

1

: an act or instance of packaging something or someone: such as

a

: the enclosing of something in a container or covering

… damage caused by static charge during packaging, storing, and shipping.

—Chemical & Engineering News

b

: the presentation of something or someone to the public in a way that is designed to be attractive or appealing

This is public relations: the packaging of ideas, the execution of them, and the media coverage surrounding them.

—Robert Z. Chew

2

: material used to enclose or contain something

… the flashy packaging popularized by mass merchants.

—Jan Stafford

also : a covering wrapper or container : package entry 1 sense 3

the manufacture of food packagings

Examples of packaging in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For security reasons, the company only uses discreet packaging with no external branding. — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 1 July 2026

The debate playing out in Kausen’s kitchen is repeated in homes across California and the country, where varying phrases on food packaging have long left shoppers unsure whether food is simply past its peak quality or unsafe to eat. — ABC News, 1 July 2026

Heather's team redesigned that founder's packaging, rebuilt her global strategy and provided $40,000 in capital. — Kim Lawton, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

More clarity on food expiration dates Under AB 660, manufacturers for food products will use standardized language for expiration dates on packaging. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

from gerund of package entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1