handbag

noun

hand·​bag ˈhan(d)-ˌbag How to pronounce handbag (audio)
Synonyms of handbagnext
1
: suitcase
2
: a bag held in the hand or hung from a shoulder strap and used for carrying small personal articles and money

Synonyms of handbag

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Examples of handbag in a Sentence

flies only with a handbag so he doesn't have to check his luggage her handbag is just big enough to hold her favorite photos and wallet
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Led by members of the Fendi family for much of its history, the company became known for its decades-long collaboration with German designer Karl Lagerfeld and such influential handbags as the Baguette and the Peekaboo. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 Right on time, Quince dropped designer-lookalike totes, shoulder bags, and handbags in the must-have shades of the upcoming season. — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 First introduced by Nicolas Ghesquière in the early 2000s, the slouchy handbag remains shorthand for effortless It-girl style more than two decades later. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026 Belk Market sells an assortment of brands in men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, as well as shoes, handbags, accessories, home décor and fine jewelry, with frequent merchandise rotation, according to the company’s website. — Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handbag

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of handbag was in 1859

Rhymes for handbag

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Browse Nearby Words

hand back
handbag
hand baggage
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Cite this Entry

“Handbag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handbag. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

handbag

noun
hand·​bag ˈhan(d)-ˌbag How to pronounce handbag (audio)
1
: suitcase
2
: a woman's bag for carrying small personal articles and money

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