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Baggage vs. Bag — What's the Difference?

By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 1, 2024
Baggage refers to luggage or the belongings travelers carry, while a bag is a container for holding items.
Baggage vs. Bag — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Baggage and Bag

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Key Differences

Baggage encompasses a range of items travelers take with them, such as suitcases, backpacks, and duffels, intended for personal belongings during trips. It's often subject to specific airline or travel regulations regarding weight and size. On the other hand, a bag is a more general term that describes any flexible container with an opening at the top, used for carrying things. Bags can be made of various materials like cloth, leather, or plastic and come in numerous forms, including handbags, grocery bags, and backpacks.
While baggage is primarily associated with the context of travel, highlighting items packed for journeys, a bag serves a broader purpose, utilized in everyday situations for carrying groceries, books, personal items, and more. This distinction underscores baggage's role in travel scenarios versus the bag's versatility in daily life.
The concept of baggage can also extend to emotional or metaphorical meanings, referring to past experiences or issues someone carries with them, whereas a bag typically retains its literal meaning related to carrying physical items. This metaphorical use of baggage adds a layer of depth to its meaning, which isn't commonly associated with bags.
Regarding restrictions, baggage is often subject to airline or transportation guidelines, which dictate the allowed size, weight, and sometimes the content of what can be transported. Bags, especially in non-travel contexts, are rarely subject to such specific limitations, though certain places like stadiums or schools may have rules about bag sizes for security reasons.
In terms of packing and organization, baggage requires more careful planning, considering factors like travel duration, destination climate, and activities. Packing a bag for daily use, however, is generally more straightforward, focusing on immediate needs rather than comprehensive preparation for an extended period away from home.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Luggage and belongings for travel
Flexible container for holding items

Context

Travel
Everyday use

Restrictions

Subject to travel regulations
Fewer restrictions, varies by location

Materials

Various, including hard cases
Cloth, leather, plastic, etc.

Metaphorical Use

Yes, referring to emotional burdens
No, typically literal

Compare with Definitions

Baggage

Emotional burdens from past experiences.
He comes with a lot of emotional baggage.

Bag

A container for holding or carrying things.
She carried a bag of groceries home.

Baggage

The total belongings of a traveler.
Her baggage was lost in transit.

Bag

A storage solution for various items.
They used plastic bags for the trash.

Baggage

Items packed for a journey.
His baggage was over the weight limit.

Bag

A term for different types of carry items.
The paper bag tore under the weight.

Baggage

Collective items for travel.
Their baggage included both carry-ons and checked items.

Bag

A flexible receptacle.
He put his books in a backpack.

Baggage

Luggage or suitcases used for travel.
She checked her baggage at the airport.

Bag

A fashion accessory.
Her designer bag was the envy of her friends.

Baggage

Baggage or luggage consists of bags, cases, and containers which hold a traveller's personal articles while the traveler is in transit. A modern traveller can be expected to have packages containing clothing, toiletries, small possessions, trip necessities.

Bag

A bag (also known regionally as a sack) is a common tool in the form of a non-rigid container. The use of bags predates recorded history, with the earliest bags being no more than lengths of animal skin, cotton, or woven plant fibers, folded up at the edges and secured in that shape with strings of the same material.Despite their simplicity, bags have been fundamental for the development of human civilization, as they allow people to easily collect loose materials such as berries or food grains, and to transport more items than could readily be carried in the hands.

Baggage

The trunks, bags, parcels, and suitcases in which one carries one's belongings while traveling; luggage.

Bag

A container of flexible material, such as paper, plastic, or leather, that is used for carrying or storing items.

Baggage

The movable equipment and supplies of an army.

Bag

A handbag; a purse.

Baggage

Emotions or thoughts that stem from painful or unpleasant past experiences and that affect one's outlook or behavior
"I lugged a considerable amount of psychological baggage from my adolescence" (Stephen S. Hall).

Bag

A piece of hand luggage, such as a suitcase or satchel.

Baggage

A woman prostitute.

Bag

A pouchlike or sagging organ or part of the body, such as a cow's udder.

Baggage

A girl or young woman, especially one is who impudent.

Bag

An object that resembles a pouch.

Baggage

(uncountable) Portable cases, large bags, and similar equipment for manually carrying, pushing, or pulling personal items while traveling
Please put your baggage in the trunk.

Bag

(Nautical) The sagging or bulging part of a sail.

Baggage

Factors, especially psychological ones, which interfere with a person's ability to function effectively.
This person has got a lot of emotional baggage.

Bag

The amount that a bag can hold.

Baggage

A woman.

Bag

An amount of game taken or legally permitted to be taken.

Baggage

An army's portable equipment; its baggage train.

Bag

(Baseball) A base.

Baggage

The clothes, tents, utensils, and provisions of an army.

Bag

(Slang) An area of interest or skill
Cooking is not my bag.

Baggage

The trunks, valises, satchels, etc., which a traveler carries with him on a journey; luggage.
The baronet's baggage on the roof of the coach.
We saw our baggage following below.

Bag

(Slang) A woman considered ugly or unkempt.

Baggage

Purulent matter.

Bag

To put into a bag
Bag groceries.

Baggage

Trashy talk.

Bag

To cause to bulge like a pouch.

Baggage

A man of bad character.

Bag

To capture or kill as game
Bagged six grouse.

Baggage

A woman of loose morals; a prostitute.
A disreputable, daring, laughing, painted French baggage.

Bag

To gain; acquire
He bagged a profit from the sale.

Baggage

A romping, saucy girl.

Bag

To capture or arrest
Was bagged for trespassing.

Baggage

A case used to carry belongings when traveling

Bag

To accomplish or achieve
Bagged a birdie with a long putt.

Baggage

A worthless or immoral woman

Bag

To fail to attend purposely; skip
Bagged classes for the day and went to the beach.

Bag

To stop doing or considering; abandon
Bagged the idea and started from scratch.

Bag

To terminate the employment of.

Bag

To pack items in a bag.

Bag

To hang loosely
The pants bag at the knees.

Bag

To swell out; bulge.

Bag

A soft container made out of cloth, paper, thin plastic, etc. and open at the top, used to hold food, commodities, and other goods.

Bag

A container made of leather, plastic, or other material, usually with a handle or handles, in which you carry personal items, or clothes or other things that you need for travelling. Includes shopping bags, schoolbags, suitcases, and handbags.

Bag

(colloquial) One's preference.
Acid House is not my bag: I prefer the more traditional styles of music.

Bag

(derogatory) An ugly woman.

Bag

A fellow gay man.

Bag

(baseball) The cloth-covered pillow used for first, second, and third base.
The grounder hit the bag and bounced over the fielder’s head.

Bag

(baseball) First, second, or third base.
He headed back to the bag.

Bag

(preceded by "the") A breathalyzer, so named because it formerly had a plastic bag over the end to measure a set amount of breath.

Bag

(mathematics) A collection of objects, disregarding order, but (unlike a set) in which elements may be repeated.
A bag of three apples could be represented symbolically as {a,a,a}. Or, letting 'r' denote 'red apple' and 'g' denote 'green apple', then a bag of three red apples and two green apples could be denoted as {r,r,r,g,g}.

Bag

A sac in animal bodies, containing some fluid or other substance.
The bag of poison in the mouth of some serpents
The bag of a cow

Bag

A pouch tied behind a man's head to hold the back-hair of a wig; a bag wig.

Bag

The quantity of game bagged in a hunt.

Bag

A scrotum.

Bag

(UK) A unit of measure of cement equal to 94 pounds.

Bag

A dark circle under the eye, caused by lack of sleep, drug addiction etc.

Bag

(slang) A small envelope that contains drugs, especially narcotics.

Bag

£1000, a grand.

Bag

(informal) A large number or amount.

Bag

(transitive) To put into a bag.

Bag

(transitive) To take with oneself, to assume into one's score

Bag

(informal) To catch or kill, especially when fishing or hunting.
We bagged three deer yesterday.

Bag

To gain possession of something, or to make first claim on something.

Bag

(slang) To steal.

Bag

(slang) To arrest.

Bag

(transitive) To furnish or load with a bag.

Bag

To provide with artificial ventilation via a bag valve mask (BVM) resuscitator.

Bag

To fit with a bag to collect urine.

Bag

To expose exterior shape or physical behaviour resembling that of a bag

Bag

To (cause to) swell or hang down like a full bag.
The skin bags from containing morbid matter.
The brisk wind bagged the sails.

Bag

To hang like an empty bag.
His trousers bag at the knees.

Bag

To drop away from the correct course.

Bag

To become pregnant.

Bag

To forget, ignore, or get rid of.

Bag

To show particular puffy emotion

Bag

To swell with arrogance.

Bag

To laugh uncontrollably.

Bag

To criticise sarcastically.

Bag

A sack or pouch, used for holding anything; as, a bag of meal or of money.

Bag

A sac, or dependent gland, in animal bodies, containing some fluid or other substance; as, the bag of poison in the mouth of some serpents; the bag of a cow.

Bag

A sort of silken purse formerly tied about men's hair behind, by way of ornament.

Bag

The quantity of game bagged.

Bag

A certain quantity of a commodity, such as it is customary to carry to market in a sack; as, a bag of pepper or hops; a bag of coffee.

Bag

To put into a bag; as, to bag hops.

Bag

To seize, capture, or entrap; as, to bag an army; to bag game.

Bag

To furnish or load with a bag or with a well filled bag.
A bee bagged with his honeyed venom.

Bag

To swell or hang down like a full bag; as, the skin bags from containing morbid matter.

Bag

To swell with arrogance.

Bag

To become pregnant.

Bag

A flexible container with a single opening;
He stuffed his laundry into a large bag

Bag

The quantity of game taken in a particular period (usually by one person);
His bag included two deer

Bag

Place that runner must touch before scoring;
He scrambled to get back to the bag

Bag

A bag used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women);
She reached into her bag and found a comb

Bag

The quantity that a bag will hold;
He ate a large bag of popcorn

Bag

A portable rectangular traveling bag for carrying clothes;
He carried his small bag onto the plane with him

Bag

An ugly or ill-tempered woman;
He was romancing the old bag for her money

Bag

Mammary gland of bovids (cows and sheep and goats)

Bag

An activity that you like or at which you are superior;
Chemistry is not my cup of tea
His bag now is learning to play golf
Marriage was scarcely his dish

Bag

Capture or kill, as in hunting;
Bag a few pheasants

Bag

Hang loosely, like an empty bag

Bag

Bulge out; form a bulge outward, or be so full as to appear to bulge

Bag

Take unlawfully

Bag

Put into a bag;
The supermarket clerk bagged the groceries

Common Curiosities

Can baggage include non-physical items?

Yes, the term "baggage" can also metaphorically refer to emotional burdens or past experiences someone carries with them.

Can a bag be considered baggage?

Yes, a bag can be part of someone's baggage when used for carrying belongings in a travel context.

How do you choose between using a bag or baggage?

The choice depends on the context; use "baggage" when referring to travel-related belongings and "bag" for general purposes of carrying items.

How does the handling of baggage differ from bags at airports?

Baggage handling at airports involves specific processes for check-in, security screening, and transportation to the plane, whereas carry-on bags are brought by passengers and must fit in overhead bins or under seats.

What constitutes oversized baggage?

Oversized baggage typically refers to luggage exceeding an airline's specified dimensions or weight limits for standard checked luggage, often incurring additional fees.

What is the best way to secure your baggage and bags during travel?

Using TSA-approved locks, luggage straps, and tracking devices, and minimizing valuable items in checked baggage are effective ways to secure your belongings.

What are the security restrictions for baggage and bags on flights?

Both baggage and carry-on bags are subject to security restrictions, including limits on liquids, prohibited items, and requirements for screening at checkpoints.

What is the difference between baggage and a bag?

Baggage refers to travelers' belongings, often subject to travel guidelines, while a bag is a general term for a flexible container used for carrying items.

Are there size restrictions for baggage and bags?

Baggage often has size and weight restrictions imposed by airlines or transportation services, while bags used daily may have fewer or no restrictions, depending on the context.

How do airlines determine baggage fees?

Airlines determine baggage fees based on factors such as the number of bags, weight, size, and sometimes the route or passenger status with the airline.

Why do some public places have restrictions on bag sizes?

Public places may restrict bag sizes for security reasons, to speed up entry processes, and to ensure the comfort and safety of all visitors.

What happens to lost baggage or bags?

Lost baggage is usually handled by the airline's lost and found department, which attempts to track and return the luggage to its owner based on the provided contact details and identification tags.

Is a backpack considered a bag or baggage?

A backpack can be categorized as both, depending on usage: as a bag for daily carry or as baggage when used for travel.

How should you pack a bag for everyday use versus packing baggage for travel?

For everyday use, pack essentials such as wallet, keys, and personal items; for travel, pack systematically, considering the trip's duration, destination, and activities.

Can you bring a bag as well as baggage on a flight?

Yes, passengers typically can bring one piece of carry-on baggage (a bag) plus a personal item, in addition to checked baggage, subject to airline policies.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.

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