pouch

1 of 2

noun

ˈpau̇ch 

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

ˈpau̇cht 

adjective

pouch

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms of pouch

Noun

• bag
• sack

Verb

• protrude
• poke
• bulge

Examples of pouch in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

as he grew older, the skin on his neck pouched

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To avoid any water- or sand-related accidents, keep your phone, camera, headphones, cords, and other electronic items inside a waterproof pouch. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026

Compared with smoking, nicotine patches and pouches deliver slower, more sustained amounts of nicotine, says Shane Kraus, PhD, an associate professor of psychology and the director of the Behavioral Addictions Lab at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. —Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Mar. 2026

Verb

That’s right: no chicken nuggets, no fries, no applesauce pouches for picky eaters. —Katrina Donham, Parents, 25 Feb. 2026

There's also a padded harness with water bottle holders and a zipper pouches for Clif Bars or a flashlight. —Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 29 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing pouch

• retort pouch

Rhymes for pouch

• bouche
• couch
• crouch
• grouch
• ouch
• slouch
• vouch

Kids Definition

pouch

1 of 2 noun

ˈpau̇ch 

1

: a small bag that can be closed (as with a string)

tobacco pouch

2

: a structure in the form of a bag

especially : one for carrying the young on the abdomen of a female marsupial (as a kangaroo or opossum)

pouched

ˈpau̇cht 

adjective

pouch

2 of 2 verb

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

Medical Definition

pouch

noun

ˈpau̇ch 

: an anatomical structure resembling a bag or pocket

a blind gastric pouch filled with bile and gastric juice

—The Journal of the American Medical Association