parcel

1 of 4

noun

par·​cel ˈpär-səl 

1

: a tract or plot of land

a parcel of real estate

2

a

: a wrapped bundle : package

The parcel was shipped today.

b

: a unit of salable merchandise

a parcel in an auction

3

: a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or things : lot

The whole story was a parcel of lies.

a parcel of giddy young kids

—Mark Twain

4

a

: fragment, portion

sold his stocks by parcels

b

: a volume of a fluid (such as air) considered as a single entity within a greater volume of the same fluid

parcel

2 of 4

verb

parceled or parcelled; parceling or parcelling ˈpär-s(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to divide into parts : distribute

—often used with out

2

: to make up into a parcel : wrap

3

: to cover (something, such as a rope) with strips of canvas or tape

parcel

3 of 4

adjective

: part-time, partial

parcel

4 of 4

adverb

archaic

: partly

Synonyms of parcel

Noun

• cluster
• batch
• collection
• array
• package
• bunch
• assemblage
• constellation
• group
• lot
• set
• grouping

Verb

• distribute
• dispense
• deal (out)
• provide
• allocate
• portion
• administer
• hand out

Examples of parcel in a Sentence

Noun

a parcel of real estate

her absurd explanation for the collision was a parcel of lies

Verb

parceled out the assignments for work on the parish fair

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Ustjanauskas family held political rallies also calling for independence and established four parcel agencies allowing immigrants in the United States to send clothing, food, and other goods to those living under Soviet rule. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

Some recorder databases do not support address searches, which is why the parcel number and owner names are helpful. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Verb

Curators Massimiliano Gioni and Gary Carrion-Murayari have parceled nearly four decades’ worth of art across two floors of the New York museum, casting much of the exhibition in inky darkness. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

But the lake that emerged was not a broad recreational basin with endless waterfront to parcel and sell. — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Adjective

His holdings range from the sprawling Skywalker Ranch in Marin County to side-by-side retreats in Carpinteria, multi-parcel compounds in San Anselmo, a historic Bel Air mansion, a record-setting Chicago penthouse, a winery in France, and a trophy London residence. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 14 Nov. 2025

The current record, of $147 million, was for a multi-parcel purchase by investor Barry Rosenstein. — Amy Dobson, Forbes, 6 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, Adjective, and Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French parcele, from Vulgar Latin *particella, from Latin particula small part — more at particle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing parcel

• parcel bomb
• parcel off
• parcel out
• parcel post
• parcel up
• part and parcel
• part and parcel of

Rhymes for parcel

• tarsal
• metatarsal

Kids Definition

parcel

1 of 2 noun

par·​cel ˈpär-səl 

1

: a part of a whole : portion

2

: a plot of land

3

: a group or collections of persons or things

told a parcel of lies

4

: a wrapped bundle

parcel

2 of 2 verb

parceled or parcelled; parceling or parcelling

ˈpär-s(ə-)liŋ

1

: to divide into parts : distribute

2

: to wrap up into a parcel

Legal Definition

parcel

noun

par·​cel ˈpär-səl 

: a tract or plot of land