packaging

noun

: an act or instance of packaging something or someone: such as

: the enclosing of something in a container or covering

… damage caused by static charge during packaging, storing, and shipping.—Chemical & Engineering News

: the presentation of something or someone to the public in a way that is designed to be attractive or appealing

This is public relations: the packaging of ideas, the execution of them, and the media coverage surrounding them.—Robert Z. Chew

: material used to enclose or contain something

… the flashy packaging popularized by mass merchants.—Jan Stafford

also : a covering wrapper or container : package entry 1 sense 3

the manufacture of food packagings

Examples of packaging in a Sentence

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.

For these two new expressions, Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish and 2026 Discovery, the distillery dove even further into focusing on design by enlisting Louisville artist Margaret Archambault to create new packaging. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2026 Even shoppers who enter intending to buy a familiar product encounter packaging, alternatives, displays, and contextual cues at the moment of choice. — Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Taiwanese companies now dominate niches from power supplies to chip packaging and cooling systems, allowing global customers to mix and match suppliers while keeping production flexible. — John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 The versatile 5-in-1 scissors tackle everything from opening stubborn packaging to cutting herbs and cracking nuts. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for packaging

Word History

Etymology

from gerund of package entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of packaging was circa 1875

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

package tour

packaging

pack animal

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Packaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/packaging. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

packaging

noun

Examples of packaging in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on packaging

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

divulge

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes