What does resealable mean?
Resealable describes a container, package, or closure that can be sealed again after it has been opened. The word is especially common on food and household-product packaging, where it indicates that the original closure can be reused to protect the contents from air, moisture, or contamination. A resealable bag may have a zipper, while a resealable jar may have a screw lid. Unlike a single-use package, resealable packaging is intended to help the product remain fresh after opening. The term is practical and widely understood, appearing in descriptions of jars, tubs, pouches, boxes, and other containers. It is also used more broadly for doors, windows, and other openings that can be closed again, although those meanings are less frequent than the packaging sense.
adjectiveAble to be sealed again after it has been opened, especially a container or package.
- Capable of being closed or sealed again after being opened.
"The food comes in a resealable bag to help keep it fresh."
"Please store the opened biscuits in their resealable container."
"The manufacturer has switched to resealable packaging for the product."
A resealable package is designed for a second life: close it again and keep its contents protected.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does resealable come from?
The word is formed from the English verb “reseal” together with the suffix “-able,” meaning “capable of being” something. “Seal” itself is an old English word associated with closing an opening securely and comes from Germanic roots. “Reseal” developed in the modern period by combining “re-” and “seal,” and “resealable” later applies the standard adjective-forming suffix to describe something that can be sealed again.
Related word forms
How resealable is actually used
Common in product descriptions, packaging, and consumer contexts. It usually implies that a container has a zipper, clip, lid, or other practical closure that can be used more than once.