noun
knapsack
NAP-sak
noun
1
A bag, usually made of canvas or leather, carried on the back for holding supplies or belongings.
"He set off up the trail with a knapsack full of food and water."
How to Use Knapsack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA backpack, especially the kind used for hiking or carrying supplies.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
knapsacked past tense, knapsacks plural, knapsacks singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “knapsack”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He set off up the trail with a _____ full of food and water.
Etymology
From a Low German or Dutch word combining knappen, "to bite or crack" (referring to eating), with sack — essentially a "food sack," reflecting its early use for carrying rations.