suitcase
SOOT-kays
/ˈsuːt.keɪs/
A portable rectangular case used for carrying clothes and belongings during travel.
Unlike the collective noun 'luggage', 'suitcase' is a countable noun referring to a specific structured bag.
The story behind the word. The term emerged in late 19th-century America as a container specifically designed to hold suits of clothing without wrinkling them.
Word relationships
- valise: Valise is an archaic or formal synonym for a small suitcase.
- bag: Bag is broader and can refer to non-rigid containers.
Commonly confused with
- briefcase: A briefcase carries flat papers or laptops for work, whereas a suitcase holds clothing and travel items.
Collocations
- pack a suitcase
- hard-shell suitcase
- wheeled suitcase
- unpack a suitcase
Idioms & expressions
- live out of a suitcase (to travel continuously without settling)
Example sentences
- "She opened her suitcase on the bed and began arranging her folded clothes." Travel Prep
- "He picked up his worn leather suitcase and stepped onto the train platform." Classic Literature
- "My hard-shell suitcase was damaged during the flight." Airline Inquiry
Memory hook
A CASE built specifically to hold your SUIT. Suit inside a case.
When not to use
Do not use for soft, unstructured fabric bags like duffels or backpacks.
Fun facts
- Wheels were not added to suitcases until 1970 when Bernard Sadow patented rolling luggage.
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