baggage

1 of 2

noun (1)

bag·​gage ˈba-gij 

1

: suitcases, trunks, and personal belongings of travelers : luggage

2

: transportable equipment especially of a military force

3

: intangible things (such as feelings, circumstances, or beliefs) that get in the way

emotional baggage

baggage

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

dated : a contemptible or disreputable woman

"I can buy her off. If she took money from him—the mercenary, painted baggage!—why, then, she'll take it from me."

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

2

dated : a young woman

Examples of baggage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This, in Redick’s mind, would be the signal, the sign that the emotional baggage Doncic has carried since having his life and career upended via a shocking trade was lessening. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2025

That includes screening passengers and baggage at 450 airports across the country for security purposes. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025

Party offers a lack of baggage, a deeper vocal flexibility, and a boon of harmonies, pushing a wider palette of sounds and ideas where possible. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025

But for Walton Goggins, joining Season 3 of The White Lotus came with unseen baggage. —Charlie Campbell / Koh Samui, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bagage, from Middle French, from bagues belongings, baggage

Noun (2)

probably modification of Middle French bagasse, from Old Occitan bagassa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing baggage

• bag and baggage
• baggage claim
• hand baggage

Kids Definition

baggage

noun

bag·​gage

ˈbag-ij

: the traveling bags and personal belongings of a traveler : luggage