packaging

American  

[pak-uh-jing] / ˈpæk ə dʒɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of packing or forming packages.

   At the end of the production line is a machine for packaging.

2. the package in which merchandise is sold or displayed.

   Attractive packaging can help sell a product.

---

packaging British  

/ ˈpækɪdʒɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the box or wrapping in which a product is offered for sale

   2. the design of such a box or wrapping, esp with reference to its ability to attract customers

2. the presentation of a person, product, television programme, etc, to the public in a way designed to build up a favourable image

3. the work of a packager

---

Etymology

Origin of packaging

First recorded in 1870–75; package + -ing ¹

Explanation

Packaging is the material used to enclose, protect, and even promote things that are for sale. It’s all about presentation. If you’re having trouble selling lemonade out of an old pickle jar, perhaps you should change the packaging. Walk through a supermarket or a drug store and you'll see many different kinds of packaging, from hard plastic medicine bottles to cardboard cereal boxes and glass jars of spaghetti sauce. You can call the act or business of putting all these items into containers packaging too. There's also a figurative meaning of this noun, "presenting something in a flattering or beneficial way," as in: "The advisors' packaging of the candidate makes him seem much smarter."

Example Sentences

The deal includes chip design, packaging, and networking to build out the massive computing foundation to deliver what Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls “personal superintelligence” to billions of people.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

"But they offer a trajectory for improvement. We need to continue to improve on multiple areas -- materials, circuits and packaging -- to make this technology ready for data center applications."

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

In the 1860s, Knight designed a machine that cut, folded and glued paper to form square-bottomed bags, revolutionizing packaging for food and other goods, easing the chore of household shopping.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Last month, Estée Lauder Companies launched High Court proceedings over a collaboration between Jo Loves and Zara, over the use of Malone's name on the packaging.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

With relief he peels back the foil covering his breakfast, extracts the silverware from its sealed plastic packaging, asks the British Airways stewardess for a glass of orange juice.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri