1
: a tract or plot of land
a parcel of real estate
2
a
: a wrapped bundle : package
The parcel was shipped today.
b
: a unit of salable merchandise
a parcel in an auction
3
: a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or things : lot
The whole story was a parcel of lies.
a parcel of giddy young kids—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
parceled or parcelled; parceling or parcelling
ˈpär-s(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to divide into parts : distribute
—often used with out
2
: to make up into a parcel : wrap
3
: to cover (something, such as a rope) with strips of canvas or tape
Synonyms
Examples of parcel in a Sentence
Noun
a parcel of real estate
her absurd explanation for the collision was a parcel of lies
Verb
parceled out the assignments for work on the parish fair
Recent Examples on the WebMalia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Municipalities use TIFs to generate development, such as in commercial areas where vacant storefronts have multiplied, or on parcels of vacant land.
—Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 16 Oct. 2024
Sadhbh O'Sullivan, refinery29.com, 28 Feb. 2024
The laws have collectively provided about $60 billion to the Agriculture Department, which has parceled it out across a variety of priorities, from relieving farmers’ debt to paying them to reduce their carbon emissions.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 30 May 2024
Amy Dobson, Forbes, 6 Apr. 2021
While parcel demand for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday retail peaks was higher than expected, the threat of industrial action caused customers to divert holiday packages to other companies, Royal Mail said in a statement.
—Anthony Palazzo, Bloomberg.com, 29 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for parcel 
Noun
Tanzanian authorities in August finalized the allocation of a nearly 200-acre parcel of land in Zanzibar to Elba, who plans to build a film studio there with the working title West African Studios.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Municipalities use TIFs to generate development, such as in commercial areas where vacant storefronts have multiplied, or on parcels of vacant land.
—Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 16 Oct. 2024
Verb
Clocking and the secondhand joy parcelled around an acknowledgement are an effect of that first commitment, to articulate one’s own grace.
—Sadhbh O'Sullivan, refinery29.com, 28 Feb. 2024
The laws have collectively provided about $60 billion to the Agriculture Department, which has parceled it out across a variety of priorities, from relieving farmers’ debt to paying them to reduce their carbon emissions.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 30 May 2024
Adjective
The current record, of $147 million, was for a multi-parcel purchase by investor Barry Rosenstein.
—Amy Dobson, Forbes, 6 Apr. 2021
While parcel demand for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday retail peaks was higher than expected, the threat of industrial action caused customers to divert holiday packages to other companies, Royal Mail said in a statement.
—Anthony Palazzo, Bloomberg.com, 29 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for parcel
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parcel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near parcel
Cite this Entry
“Parcel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parcel. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parcel
2 of 2 verb
parceled or parcelled; parceling or parcelling
ˈpär-s(ə-)liŋ
1
: to divide into parts : distribute
2
: to wrap up into a parcel
Legal Definition
parcel
noun
par·cel
ˈpär-səl
: a tract or plot of land
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