pouch

noun \ ˈpau̇ch \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 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

—

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

Muuñ’s preppy chic Ninon straw tote is very practical thanks to its detachable striped pouch that can be tied into a knot to keep your belongings safe.

— sari anne tuschman, latimes.com, "Summer’s hottest bag trend shouldn’t be saved for just beach days," 12 July 2018
The babies will stay inside their mothers’ pouches for a total of three months.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Endangered Eastern Quolls Are Born on Mainland Australia for the First Time in 50 Years," 10 July 2018
Yontif wore triple-thick glasses and not so much cargo shorts as cargo pants and cargo shirts, the better to hide his pouches of fat.

— gary shteyngart, The New Yorker, "The Luck of Kokura," 18 June 2018
Grabbing a couple pouches, the male suspect appears to briefly consider throwing them at the officer.

— amy b wang, ajc, "Cameras capture every angle of Canadian couple's snack-throwing, ceiling-shattering arrest," 1 July 2018
Grabbing a couple pouches, the male suspect appears to briefly consider throwing them at the officer.

— amy b wang, Washington Post, "Cameras capture every angle of Canadian couple’s snack-throwing, ceiling-shattering arrest," 30 June 2018
Among the miserable, however, two men stare out at us, a paintbrush and pouch marking them as the artist and his assistant.

— lee lawrence, WSJ, "Intimations of Medieval Mortality," 29 June 2018
Guardians will be equipped with firearms, ammunition, holsters and magazine pouches that are paid for by the sheriff’s office.

— lisa maria garza, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Volusia 'school guardian' program receives 180 applications in five days, closes job posting early," 20 June 2018
The 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack is made from pouch cells with 432 of them in all.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "Forget about that Tesla—the Jaguar I-Pace is the most compelling EV yet," 14 June 2018

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

pouched; pouching; pouches

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 African giant pouched rat rode on a handler’s shoulder at Apopo’s training facility in Morogoro in 2016.

— alexandra wexler, WSJ, "How Giant African Rats Are Saving Lives in Former War Zones," 4 May 2018
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