pouch

noun \ ˈpau̇ch \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of pouch

1 : a small drawstring bag carried on the person

2 a : a bag of small or moderate size for storing or transporting goods; specifically : a lockable bag for first-class mail or diplomatic dispatches

b chiefly Scotland : pocket

c : packet

3 : an anatomical structure resembling a pouch

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pouched

play \ˈpau̇cht\ adjective

See pouch defined for English-language learners

See pouch defined for kids

Examples of pouch in a Sentence

He carried his money in a small leather pouch in his pocket.
we sealed the catnip in a cloth pouch and tossed it to the cat

Recent Examples of pouch from the Web

The giant man-bib also folds up into a pouch for convenient storage or on-the-go use.

— kelly o'sullivan, Country Living, "Every Man With Facial Hair Needs a 'Beard Bib'," 7 Apr. 2018
Insects are attracted to the large, pouch-like bottom lip and get caught in it long enough for the orchid to deposit its pollen on them.

— chris thomas, idahostatesman, "Beauty blooms in Idaho’s backcountry in the spring and summer | Idaho Statesman," 4 Apr. 2018
When inserted, the ring creates a seal between the pouch and the cervix.

— The Economist, "A long overdue disruption in menstrual products," 28 Mar. 2018
All the information is printed on the back of a paper pouch slightly larger than the size of your wallet, and at prices that won't empty it.

— dean fosdick, Houston Chronicle, "Pocket-size seed packets speak volumes to gardeners," 26 Jan. 2018
This undated image courtesy of Dr. Emery Smith show a tiny, mummified skeleton discovery in 2003 in Chile's Atacama Desert, tucked into a leather pouch behind a church.

— ben guarino, chicagotribune.com, "A tiny skeleton found in Chile might look like an alien, but her genes tell a different story," 22 Mar. 2018
The female condom, or vaginal pouch, has a failure rate of 21 percent, comparable to that of withdrawal, which has a 22 percent failure rate.

— jane e. brody, New York Times, "Contraception for Teenagers," 19 Feb. 2018
The phone-locking pouch, made by a San Francisco company called Yondr, has a wide opening at the short end for inserting a smartphone.

— marcel o’gorman, The Atlantic, "The Case for Locking Up Your Smartphone," 2 Feb. 2018
From there, its brewed into a foil pouch where the astronauts drink it with a straw.

— john wenz, Popular Mechanics, "This Is the First Espresso Machine In Space," 24 Nov. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pouch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pouch

Middle English pouche, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English pocca bag

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

pouch Synonyms

Synonyms

bag, poke [chiefly Southern {amp} Midland], sack;

bundle, pack, package, packet, parcel;

backpack, barracks bag, duffel bag, haversack, knapsack, rucksack, satchel, tote;

handbag, pocketbook, purse, tote bag;

ditty bag, flight bag, garment bag, kit bag, shopping bag, work bag;

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

pouch

verb

Definition of pouch

transitive verb

1 : to put or form into or as if into a pouch

2 : to transmit by pouch

intransitive verb

1 : to bulge in a manner suggesting a pouch

pouching cheeks

2 : to transmit mail or dispatches by pouch

Examples of pouch in a Sentence

as he grew older, the skin on his neck pouched

Recent Examples of pouch from the Web

An exotic pet dealer imported 800 animals from Africa, including giant pouched rats, dormice and rope squirrels.

— Washington Post, "The story must be told.," 3 Nov. 2017
No giant pouched rats, but the majority of traps have yet to be set.

— Washington Post, "The story must be told.," 3 Nov. 2017
Giant pouched rats, dormice and squirrels are the chief suspects, but there could be others.

— Washington Post, "The story must be told.," 3 Nov. 2017
The push to exclude products that are canned, pouched, smoked or steamed stemmed from a push by the U.S. tuna fleet.

— author: laine welch, Alaska Dispatch News, "A closer look at the value of Alaska’s seafood industry," 23 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of pouch

circa 1566

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

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pouch Synonyms

POUCH Defined for English Language Learners

pouch

noun

Definition of pouch for English Language Learners

: a small bag
: a bag often with a lock that is used to carry letters or important papers
: a pocket of skin on the stomachs of some female animals (such as kangaroos and koalas) that is used to carry young