plural backpacks
1
a
: a pack (see pack entry 1 sense 1a) that usually has two shoulder straps and is carried on the back: such as
(1)
: a large pack (as of canvas or nylon) that is supported by an external or internal frame (as of aluminum) and is used especially for carrying supplies when hiking and camping
The logistics of the trip required that I carry all my stuff in a backpack. Since I didn't want to lug too heavy a load on the hiking leg of the trip, I pared way down.—
Daisann McLane
Daisann McLane
(2)
: a bag or small pack (as of canvas, polyester, or nylon) used for carrying personal belongings or supplies : knapsack
I rode my bicycle to the market and rode home with my backpack full of exotic lettuces and basil-garlic baguettes.—Meredith Maran
Meredith MaranEach morning, tens of thousands of moms load phones, along with homework, into the backpacks of schoolchildren.—Michael Specter
Michael Specter
b
: a load carried on the back
2
: a piece of equipment designed for use while being carried on the back
By wearing a jet-propelled "space backpack," astronauts will be able to move freely in space, making it possible to build, repair, and maintain craft in orbit …—Business Week
Business WeekI'm soaring above the central Sahara in a powered paraglider, a single-seat aircraft that looks like a flying lawn chair. Developed in France, it combines an inflated, parachute-like wing with a 50-pound motorized backpack.—George Steinmetz
George Steinmetz
backpacked; backpacking; backpacks
: to carry (food or equipment) on the back especially in hiking
: to hike with a backpack
backpacker
noun
Examples of backpack in a Sentence
Noun
stuffed her backpack with so many books that she could barely walk
Verb
After college, she backpacked through Europe.
We're planning to go backpacking in a national park this summer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
Their backpacks were their lives, and their camaraderie.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Some visitors bring multiple vehicles and set up a shuttle at both ends for a point-to-point hike, and others backpack the full canyon, camping along the way.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpack
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Noun
Finding the right toiletry bag for your next trip is as important as buying a reliable carry-on or a hassle-free backpack.
—Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
Their backpacks were their lives, and their camaraderie.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Mangione started backpacking in Asia in early 2024, according to the outlet.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Some visitors bring multiple vehicles and set up a shuttle at both ends for a point-to-point hike, and others backpack the full canyon, camping along the way.
—Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpack
Cite this Entry
“Backpack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backpack. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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