Bag vs. Sack: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A bag is a general term for a flexible container used for carrying things, while a sack specifically refers to a large, usually coarse, bag made of burlap, cloth, or paper.
Key Differences
A bag is a versatile term that can describe various types of containers made from different materials, used for carrying or storing items. In contrast, a sack typically refers to a larger bag made of stronger, often rougher materials like burlap or heavy paper, used for bulkier or heavier contents.
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Dec 07, 2023
Bags are often associated with everyday use, such as handbags, shopping bags, and backpacks, made from materials like cloth, leather, or plastic. Sacks, however, are generally used for industrial or agricultural purposes, such as storing grains or transporting goods, emphasizing their utilitarian nature.
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Dec 07, 2023
The design of a bag can vary widely, including features like zippers, pockets, and stylish elements, catering to fashion or specific functionality. Sacks are more simplistic, focusing on durability and capacity, usually with a single opening and no additional compartments.
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Dec 07, 2023
In terms of portability, bags are designed for personal ease of carrying, often featuring handles or straps. Sacks, being larger and bulkier, may require more effort to transport and are less likely to have convenient carrying features.
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Dec 07, 2023
The cultural and societal roles of bags are diverse, seen in fashion, daily utility, and even as status symbols. Sacks, conversely, are rarely seen in a cultural or fashionable light, primarily serving practical, industrial purposes.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Material
Made from a variety of materials including cloth, leather, plastic.
Often made from burlap, cloth, heavy paper.
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Use
Used for personal, everyday items; fashion accessories.
Used for storing or transporting bulk items; utilitarian.
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Dec 07, 2023
Design
Varied designs with additional features like zippers, pockets.
Simple design, usually with a single opening.
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Dec 07, 2023
Portability
Designed for ease of carrying, often with handles or straps.
Larger, bulkier, and less convenient to carry.
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Dec 07, 2023
Cultural Association
Associated with fashion, personal style, and daily utility.
Seen as purely functional, with little cultural association.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Bag and Sack Definitions
Sack
A bag used for transporting goods.
The grain was stored in large sacks.
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Dec 07, 2023
Bag
A container of flexible material, such as paper, plastic, or leather, that is used for carrying or storing items.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A term for dismissal from employment.
He got the sack for being late too often.
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Dec 07, 2023
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Sack
A bag, especially one made of strong material for holding grain or objects in bulk.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
A pouchlike or sagging organ or part of the body, such as a cow's udder.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(Slang) Dismissal from employment
Finally got the sack after a year of ineptitude.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
Any of various light, dry, strong wines from Spain and the Canary Islands, imported to England in the 1500s and 1600s.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(Slang) To discharge from employment
Sacked the workers who were caught embezzling.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(Football) To tackle (a quarterback attempting to pass the ball) behind the line of scrimmage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
To rob (a town, for example) of goods or valuables, especially after capture.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with handles used at a supermarket, a grocery sack; or, a small bag for small items, a satchel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
The amount a sack holds; also, an archaic or historical measure of varying capacity, depending on commodity type and according to local usage; an old English measure of weight, usually of wool, equal to 13 stone (182 pounds), or in other sources, 26 stone (364 pounds).
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(uncountable) The plunder and pillaging of a captured town or city.
The sack of Rome
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
To fail to attend purposely; skip
Bagged classes for the day and went to the beach.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
To stop doing or considering; abandon
Bagged the idea and started from scratch.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(American football) A successful tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. See verb sense4 below.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(baseball) One of the square bases anchored at first base, second base, or third base.
He twisted his ankle sliding into the sack at second.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(informal) Dismissal from employment, or discharge from a position, usually as give (someone) the sack or get the sack. See verb sense5 below.
The boss is gonna give her the sack today.
He got the sack for being late all the time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
Bed (either literally or figuratively); usually as hit the sack or in the sack. See also sack out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(dated) (also sacque) A kind of loose-fitting gown or dress with sleeves which hangs from the shoulders, such as a gown with a Watteau back or sack-back, fashionable in the late 17th to 18th century; or, formerly, a loose-fitting hip-length jacket, cloak or cape.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(dated) A sack coat; a kind of coat worn by men, and extending from top to bottom without a cross seam.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
(colloquial) One's preference.
Acid House is not my bag: I prefer the more traditional styles of music.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(dated) A variety of light-colored dry wine from Spain or the Canary Islands; also, any strong white wine from southern Europe; sherry.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
To plunder or pillage, especially after capture; to obtain spoils of war from.
The barbarians sacked Rome in 410 CE.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
(American football) To tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, especially before he is able to throw a pass.
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Oct 19, 2023
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}.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
To discharge from a job or position; to fire.
He was sacked last September.
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
A pouch tied behind a man's head to hold the back-hair of a wig; a bag wig.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A bag for holding and carrying goods of any kind; a receptacle made of some kind of pliable material, as cloth, leather, and the like; a large pouch.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A measure of varying capacity, according to local usage and the substance. The American sack of salt is 215 pounds; the sack of wheat, two bushels.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
Originally, a loosely hanging garment for women, worn like a cloak about the shoulders, and serving as a decorative appendage to the gown; now, an outer garment with sleeves, worn by women; as, a dressing sack.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A sack coat; a kind of coat worn by men, and extending from top to bottom without a cross seam.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
A dark circle under the eye, caused by lack of sleep, drug addiction etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
The pillage or plunder, as of a town or city; the storm and plunder of a town; devastation; ravage.
The town was stormed, and delivered up to sack, - by which phrase is to be understood the perpetration of all those outrages which the ruthless code of war allowed, in that age, on the persons and property of the defenseless inhabitants, without regard to sex or age.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
To put in a sack; to bag; as, to sack corn.
Bolsters sacked in cloth, blue and crimson.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
To plunder or pillage, as a town or city; to devastate; to ravage.
The Romans lay under the apprehensions of seeing their city sacked by a barbarous enemy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
(informal) To catch or kill, especially when fishing or hunting.
We bagged three deer yesterday.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
Any of various light dry strong white wine from Spain and Canary Islands (including sherry)
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A hanging bed of canvas or rope netting (usually suspended between two trees); swing easily
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
To provide with artificial ventilation via a bag valve mask (BVM) resuscitator.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
The plundering of a place by an army or mob; usually involves destruction and slaughter;
The sack of Rome
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
To expose exterior shape or physical behaviour resembling that of a bag
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
Terminate the employment of;
The boss fired his secretary today
The company terminated 25% of its workers
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Oct 19, 2023
Sack
A large, coarse bag for carrying or storing bulk items.
They filled the sack with potatoes.
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Dec 07, 2023
Sack
A bag made of paper or plastic for packaging.
He brought a sack of groceries home.
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Dec 07, 2023
Sack
A sackcloth bag used in agricultural settings.
They loaded the sacks of rice onto the truck.
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Dec 07, 2023
Bag
A sack or pouch, used for holding anything; as, a bag of meal or of money.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
A sort of silken purse formerly tied about men's hair behind, by way of ornament.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
To furnish or load with a bag or with a well filled bag.
A bee bagged with his honeyed venom.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
To swell or hang down like a full bag; as, the skin bags from containing morbid matter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
A flexible container with a single opening;
He stuffed his laundry into a large bag
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
The quantity of game taken in a particular period (usually by one person);
His bag included two deer
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
Place that runner must touch before scoring;
He scrambled to get back to the bag
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
A portable rectangular traveling bag for carrying clothes;
He carried his small bag onto the plane with him
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
An ugly or ill-tempered woman;
He was romancing the old bag for her money
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Bag
A container made of flexible material with an opening at the top.
She carried her books in a canvas bag.
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Dec 07, 2023
Bag
A soft receptacle used for carrying personal items.
He forgot his gym bag at home.
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Dec 07, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are sacks reusable?
Yes, many sacks, especially those made of durable materials, are reusable.
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Dec 07, 2023
What is a bag?
A bag is a flexible container used for carrying or storing items.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can a bag be made of plastic?
Yes, bags can be made of various materials including plastic.
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Dec 07, 2023
Do bags come in different sizes?
Yes, bags come in a range of sizes, from small purses to large travel bags.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is a backpack a type of bag?
Yes, a backpack is a type of bag designed to be carried on the back.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are sacks used in agriculture?
Yes, sacks are commonly used in agriculture for storing and transporting produce.
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Dec 07, 2023
Do sacks have handles?
Some sacks have handles, but they are generally less ergonomic than those on bags.
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Dec 07, 2023
What is a sack?
A sack is a large, coarse bag, often used for storing or transporting bulk materials.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can sacks be sealed or closed?
Yes, sacks can be tied or sealed, but typically have a simpler closure than bags.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can bags be recycled?
Many bags, especially those made of plastic or cloth, can be recycled.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can sacks be used for home storage?
Yes, sacks can be used for storing items like grains or laundry at home.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are sacks environmentally friendly?
It depends on the material; burlap sacks are biodegradable, whereas plastic sacks are less eco-friendly.
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Dec 07, 2023
Can a bag be a fashion accessory?
Yes, many bags are designed as fashion accessories, like handbags and clutches.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are sacks waterproof?
It depends on the material; some sacks, like those made of thick plastic, are waterproof.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are bags gender-specific?
While some bags are marketed towards specific genders, many are unisex.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are sacks breathable?
Burlap sacks are breathable, but plastic sacks are not.
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Dec 07, 2023
Do bags have zippers?
Many bags have zippers, but it varies based on the type and design of the bag.
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Dec 07, 2023
Is a tote a type of bag?
Yes, a tote is a large, open bag with parallel handles.
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Dec 07, 2023
Are handbags and purses considered bags?
Yes, handbags and purses are types of bags used for carrying personal items.
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Dec 07, 2023
What are sacks made of?
Sacks are commonly made of burlap, heavy paper, or plastic.
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Dec 07, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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