-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
plural knapsacks
: a bag (as of canvas or nylon) strapped on the back and used for carrying supplies or personal belongings : backpack sense 1a(2)
But the 12-year-olds were dumping landslides of books into knapsacks and getting ready to leave, and all I could do was follow them out through the turnstiles and into the start of another summer.—
Meg Wolitzer
He had a Polaroid camera around his neck and a knapsack on his back.—
Brian Selznick
Examples of knapsack in a Sentence
grabbed my knapsack from the hook and ran to catch my ride
Recent Examples on the Web
The small knapsack is made from a lightweight, technical material with a water-resistant coating and anti-wrinkle properties to maintain a more professional look.
—
Christina Liao, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
The Roam was the first dedicated portable device that Sonos decided should get Bluetooth (there not being much Wi-Fi in the middle of the woods or at a lake) so that listeners could snag a single Sonos product for both their kitchen and knapsack.
—
Parker Hall, WIRED, 20 July 2024
One of those unfortunates is the movie’s protagonist, Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre), a young Black man who is cycling into town, a knapsack on his back, in order to put up bail for a cousin.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Ms. Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving.
—
Philipp-Moritz Jenne, Stefanie Dazio, and Kirsten Grieshaber, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knapsack 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Low German knappsack or Dutch knapzak, from Low German & Dutch knappen to make a snapping noise, eat + Low German sack or Dutch zak sack
First Known Use
1599, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near knapsack
Cite this Entry
“Knapsack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knapsack. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
knapsack
noun
knap·sack
ˈnap-ˌsak
: a carrying case or pouch slung from the shoulders over the back
More from Merriam-Webster on knapsack
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share