wrapper

noun wrap·per \ ˈra-pər \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of wrapper

1 : that in which something is wrapped: such as

a : a tobacco leaf used for the outside covering especially of cigars

b (1) : jacket 3c(1)

(2) : the paper cover of a book not bound in boards

c : a paper wrapped around a newspaper or magazine in the mail

2 : one that wraps

3 : an article of clothing worn wrapped around the body

See wrapper defined for English-language learners

See wrapper defined for kids

Recent Examples of wrapper from the Web

Single-use plastic items, such as straws, shopping bags, food wrappers, and plastic bottles and bottle caps are the top contributors to this issue.

— marc daalder, Detroit Free Press, "MGM Grand Detroit to ditch use of plastic straws," 10 July 2018
The Ocean Conservancy’s 2017 Coastal Cleanup Report compiled beach cleanups around the world and found that the most common trash item found on beaches is cigarettes, followed by plastic bottles, bottle caps, wrappers, and bags.

— radhika viswanathan, Vox, "Why everyone is shunning plastic straws," 4 July 2018
One note: The packaging is compostable, which is an awesome departure from all the plastic that makes up a lot of other company’s wrappers.

— ac shilton, Outside Online, "This Is the Golden Age of Backpacking Food," 27 June 2018
Since 1988, nearly half of the planet’s plastic trash — like single-use soda bottles, food wrappers, and plastic bags — has been sent to China, where the material is recycled to make more plastic goods.

— shoshana wodinsky, The Verge, "China’s plastic waste ban will leave 111 million tons of trash with nowhere to go," 20 June 2018
There was a candy wrapper in the grave dated Oct. 11, 2012.

— Fox News, "Sketch shows mystery woman whose remains were found in a shallow grave in Texas," 17 May 2018
Those shopping bags on the floor, sent by the German artist Maria Eichhorn, are filled with empty tea boxes, plastic water bottles, and chewing gum wrappers discarded by people installing the show, a kind of behind-the-scenes gallery diary.

— joseph giovannini, New York Times, "Swiss Institute Has a New Home Ready-Made for Art," 28 June 2018
Residents can now be fined if wrappers or evidence of pyrotechnics is found on a suspect’s property.

— judy pochel, Aurora Beacon-News, "Montgomery police to crack down on illegal fireworks, noise," 21 June 2018
The waste items in most lunches are crisp packets and chocolate wrappers.

— jenni marsh, CNN, "Our children's plastic lives seen through lunches," 7 June 2018

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