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

Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals. —Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026

Air France offered to pay you $1,793 for your baggage, excluding some items such as electronics. —Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026

An outmoded concept, evil was baggage from a pre-modern age, the least useful way to interpret bad behavior. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026

Its weakest showing was fourth place in baggage handling. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026

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 21

Noun (2)

1576, 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