luggage
- 01 A2 Elementary
the suitcases and bags that you take with you when you travel.
the collective set of bags, cases, and containers used to transport a traveller's personal effects.
Simple“The airline lost my luggage, so I had to buy new clothes for the wedding.”
In context“Passengers are reminded to keep their luggage with them at all times while waiting in the departures hall.”
UsageThis noun is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
Teacher's tipIn American English, 'baggage' is more common, whereas 'luggage' is standard in British English, though both are understood globally.
PitfallI have three luggages. I have three pieces of luggage.Luggage is uncountable. To count it, use the phrase 'pieces of luggage'.
1590s, lug (“to drag”) + -age, literally “that which is lugged, dragged around”. Duplicate -g- is to clarify pronunciation of the vowel ‘u’ (which is pronounced unchanged from lug). Compare baggage.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.