What does baggage mean?
Baggage primarily means the suitcases, trunks, and bags containing a traveler's personal belongings, especially when being transported by air, rail, or sea. In everyday use it appears constantly in travel contexts — baggage claim, excess baggage, checked baggage — and is largely interchangeable with "luggage," though British English tends to favor the latter. Beyond its literal sense, baggage has developed an important figurative meaning: the emotional burdens, unresolved issues, or difficult past experiences a person carries into new relationships or situations, as in the common phrase "emotional baggage." This figurative sense is informal but thoroughly established in modern speech and writing. Historically, the word had a military application, denoting the equipment and supplies an army transported on campaign. Derived from "bag" via Old French, baggage is a versatile word whose journey from physical containers to psychological burdens illustrates how English words acquire extended meanings over time.
nounThe suitcases, bags, and other containers holding a traveler's personal belongings. More broadly, past experiences or emotional issues that a person carries with them and that affect their present behavior or relationships.
- Suitcases and bags containing a traveler's personal belongings.
- (Figurative, informal) Past emotional issues or experiences that a person carries into present situations.
- (Historical) The equipment and supplies transported by an army.
"She arrived at the airport with two heavy suitcases of baggage."
"Passengers are allowed one piece of carry-on baggage on most airlines."
"Everyone brings some emotional baggage into a new relationship."
Baggage is treated as an uncountable noun; it does not take a plural form. Speakers refer to "pieces of baggage" or "items of baggage" when counting.
"Two pieces of baggage were left unattended at the terminal."
"Baggage" once meant the entire equipment an army carried on campaign — soldiers were literally told not to let the baggage slow them down.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of baggage
Baggage derives from "bag," entering Middle English from Old Norse "baggi." It passed into Anglo-Norman French usage as "bagage" before returning to English in the late 15th century, initially referring to the portable equipment of an army. By the 16th century it was applied generally to travelers' luggage, and the figurative sense of emotional burdens developed much later, in the 20th century.
How baggage is actually used
In British English, "luggage" is often preferred over "baggage" in everyday travel contexts; American English uses both interchangeably for physical luggage. The figurative sense (emotional baggage) is informal but widespread.
Easily confused with baggage
Luggage refers specifically to the bags and containers themselves, while baggage can also refer to the contents and, figuratively, to emotional burdens.