handbag

noun

hand·​bag ˈhan(d)-ˌbag 

1

: suitcase

2

: a bag held in the hand or hung from a shoulder strap and used for carrying small personal articles and money

Synonyms of handbag

• suitcase
• wallet

Examples of handbag in a Sentence

flies only with a handbag so he doesn't have to check his luggage

her handbag is just big enough to hold her favorite photos and wallet

Recent Examples on the Web

The real winner here is Clara, who makes a handbag out of cake using a Lucite base with cake on top of it and a strap attached. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Other pieces for Middleton’s Belfast look included a set of Gianvito Rossi pumps in black leather, along with a green Mulberry top-handle handbag. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Add a handbag in royal purple for contrast—and a jolt of color. — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

At the top of that distribution, the money is going into paintings, jewelry, handbags, and whisky. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for handbag

• airbag
• ragtag
• sandbag
• ag
• bag
• brag
• dag
• drag
• flag
• gag
• hag
• hagg

Kids Definition

handbag

noun

hand·​bag ˈhan(d)-ˌbag 

1

: suitcase

2

: a woman's bag for carrying small personal articles and money