packaging

noun

1

: an act or instance of packaging something or someone: such as

a

: the enclosing of something in a container or covering

… damage caused by static charge during packaging, storing, and shipping.

—Chemical & Engineering News

b

: the presentation of something or someone to the public in a way that is designed to be attractive or appealing

This is public relations: the packaging of ideas, the execution of them, and the media coverage surrounding them.

—Robert Z. Chew

2

: material used to enclose or contain something

… the flashy packaging popularized by mass merchants.

—Jan Stafford

also : a covering wrapper or container : package entry 1 sense 3

the manufacture of food packagings

Examples of packaging in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Conventional solutions often involve applying external pressure in the tens of megapascals or utilizing complex coating processes that increase manufacturing costs and reduce packaging efficiency. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026

As consumer concern around microplastics grows, Blueland has made a name for itself by eschewing single-use plastic packaging for its eco-friendly cleaning products, which include detergents, spray cleaners, and hand soaps. —Don Steinberg, Time, 30 Apr. 2026

Bukele knows how to market himself and that the packaging matters. —Óscar Martínez, The Dial, 30 Apr. 2026

Because debates, facts, and accountability cut through the packaging every single time. —Heather Somers, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from gerund of package entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1