baggage

1 of 2

noun (1)

bag·​gage ˈba-gij 

1

: suitcases, trunks, and personal belongings of travelers : luggage

2

: transportable equipment especially of a military force

3

: intangible things (such as feelings, circumstances, or beliefs) that get in the way

emotional baggage

baggage

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

dated : a contemptible or disreputable woman

"I can buy her off. If she took money from him—the mercenary, painted baggage!—why, then, she'll take it from me."

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

2

dated : a young woman

Examples of baggage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To help buyers navigate the season, the salon’s conference program zoomed in on everything from generative AI to scaling bio-fashion, while new services included baggage check-in straight from the show. —Ellen Groves, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025

Waiving charges for beer and wine is more affordable than cutting baggage fees, which offset handling costs, O'Leary said. —Reuters, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025

But there is clearly more baggage to the Gardner-Johnson Experience. —Zach Berman, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

The floor, ceilings and baggage conveyors are new, too. —Vinod Sreeharsha september 30, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bagage, from Middle French, from bagues belongings, baggage

Noun (2)

probably modification of Middle French bagasse, from Old Occitan bagassa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing baggage

• bag and baggage
• baggage claim
• hand baggage

Kids Definition

baggage

noun

bag·​gage

ˈbag-ij

: the traveling bags and personal belongings of a traveler : luggage