What does pocketful mean?
A pocketful is an amount of something that can be carried, or would fit, in a pocket. Its clearest use is literal: she might have a pocketful of coins, keys, or small objects. The expression also means a modest supply of money or resources, as in “a pocketful of savings,” and can extend metaphorically to qualities or people, such as “a pocketful of courage.” The phrase is idiomatic rather than technical, and it emphasizes limited capacity as well as quantity. That makes it especially useful when the amount is personally manageable but still significant: a pocketful of notes, a pocketful of change, or a pocketful of luck. Unlike “handful,” which can imply a small amount held in one hand, “pocketful” evokes a container and therefore suggests portability and boundedness. In everyday English, the compound sounds familiar and approachable rather than formal, while its figurative uses often carry a warm, vivid, or encouraging tone.
nounAn amount of something that can be held or carried in a pocket. Figuratively, it means a modest supply of money, resources, or some other quality.
- The amount of something that can be held or carried in a pocket.
- A relatively small supply of money, resources, or another abstract resource.
"He pulled a pocketful of coins from his coat and counted them on the table."
"The market trader had a pocketful of foreign coins."
"With a pocketful of determination, she began training for the race."
The plural is used when referring to separate amounts or containers of the substance described.
"The juggler carried several pocketfuls of coins in his coat pockets."
A pocketful measures abundance by capacity: enough to fill a pocket, but no more.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of pocketful
The compound was formed in English by joining the inherited word “pocket” with the native suffix “-ful,” meaning “full of.” “Pocket” entered Middle English from Old French poche, meaning “bag,” and the compound expresses the idea of a quantity sufficient to fill a pocket. Its established relatives include “pocketbook,” “pickpocket,” and “pocketknife,” all formed on the same base word.
How pocketful is actually used
The expression is common in everyday British and American English and is neutral to slightly informal. It is normally followed by “of,” and its figurative uses often suggest a limited but potentially valuable supply.
Easily confused with pocketful
A pocket is the container or its opening, whereas a pocketful is the quantity of something held inside it.