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

Haiti’s northern coast is where the country faces the vast Atlantic with all its baggage. — Etant Dupain, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

What ultimately pushed her toward peace was a refusal to carry the permanent emotional baggage of divorce. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 20 Aug. 2026

First, there’s just no avoiding the current cultural baggage of basically any location obviously set in the States. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

Adults may arrive with their own baggage about their time in school. — Cheyanne Mumphrey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 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