handbag

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈhændbæg/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈhændˌbæg/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(hand′bag′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
hand•bag /ˈhændˌbæg/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Clothinga woman's purse or pocketbook.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
hand•bag  (hand′bag′),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a bag or box of leather, fabric, plastic, or the like, held in the hand or carried by means of a handle or strap, commonly used by women for holding money, toilet articles, small purchases, etc.
  2. valise.
  • hand + bag 1860–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
handbag / ˈhændˌbæɡ/
  1. Also called: bag, (US and Canadian) purse, (chiefly US) pocketbook a woman's small bag carried to contain personal articles
  2. a small suitcase that can be carried by hand
  3. a commercial style of House music
Etymology: (for sense 3) C20: humorous allusion to the trend for groups of women to dance round their handbags in discos, nightclubs, etc
'handbag' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
arm candy - bag - beachbag - beaded - blag - compact - evening bag - keister - man-bag - minaudière - muff - pocketbook - purse - shoulder bag - tote bag
Synonyms: bag, purse, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "handbag" in the title:


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