parcel
PAHR-suhl
/ˈpɑːrsəl/
An object or collection of objects wrapped in paper or packed in a box; a package.
Often implies a wrapped or boxed item sent through the mail, rather than a loose item or a massive industrial shipment.
The story behind the word. Parcel comes from the Old French 'parcelle', which itself derives from the Vulgar Latin 'particella', a diminutive of 'pars' (part or share). Originally, a parcel was literally a 'small part' or portion of land or goods, before evolving to mean a wrapped package.
Word relationships
- package: Package is more common in American English, while parcel is more common in British English and formal shipping contexts.
- packet: A packet is typically much smaller than a parcel, often containing documents or small items.
Commonly confused with
- consignment: A parcel is a single wrapped package, while a consignment is a batch of goods shipped together under a commercial agreement.
Word family
- parceled (verb): Wrapped or packaged; also used as 'parceled out' meaning divided into portions.
- parceling (noun): The act of wrapping or dividing into portions.
Collocations
- postal parcel
- wrap a parcel
- parcel delivery
- parcel post
Idioms & expressions
- part and parcel
Example sentences
- "The mail carrier left a large cardboard parcel on the front porch because it did not fit in the mailbox." Receiving mail
- "He was carrying a small parcel wrapped in brown paper and tied with string." Classic literature
Memory hook
A parcel is a 'part' of a larger shipment, wrapped up nicely for you. Parcel: A small part wrapped in a box.
When not to use
Do not use for loose, unpackaged items or for extremely large freight shipments that require pallets.
Fun facts
- The idiom 'part and parcel' means an essential or unavoidable component of something, reflecting the word's original meaning of a portion of land.
Explore more words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.