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.
Kriemler was initially drawn to de Amaral’s work because of her penchant for horsehair, a linchpin material for Akris handbags and also sometimes incorporated into jackets. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026 From lookalike handbags to beauty products compared across TikTok and Instagram, shoppers are increasingly celebrating the thrill of getting a similar look for less. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 For a playful mix of textures, finish with a beaded floral handbag and tassel earrings. — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 Birkin asked her seatmate why the company didn’t yet make a handbag that was bigger than the Kelly, but smaller and lighter than the Hermès’s Haut à Courroies, which her ex Serge Gainsbourg had carried for years. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 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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