# packet

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpæk.ɪt/ · frequency rank #10,101

## Definitions
1. A small pack or package; a little bundle or parcel
2. Originally, a vessel employed by government to convey dispatches or mails; hence, a vessel employed in conveying dispatches, mails, passengers, and goods, and having fixed days of sailing; a mail boat. Packet boat, ship, vessel (Wikipedia).
3. A specimen envelope containing small, dried plants or containing parts of plants when attached to a larger sheet.
4. A small fragment of data as transmitted on some types of network, notably Ethernet networks (Wikipedia).
5. A protocol data unit of the Internet Protocol.
6. A message sent over a transport layer protocol.
7. A plastic bag.
8. Synonym of package (“male genitalia”).
9. A large amount of money.

## Etymology
From Middle English pacquet; either from Middle French pacquet, or formed independently from pak and -et.

## Easily confused with
- **pact** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-pact)
- **packs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-packs)
- **Paget** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-paget)
- **picked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-picked)
- **pocket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-pocket)
- **Parker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-parker)
- **parked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-parked)
- **picket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-picket)
- **pallet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-pallet)
- **Phuket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-phuket)
- **picker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-picker)
- **pockets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packet-vs-pockets)
- **pack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pack-vs-packet)
- **pace** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pace-vs-packet)
- **paced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/paced-vs-packet)
- **paces** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/paces-vs-packet)
- **pacer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pacer-vs-packet)
- **packed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packed-vs-packet)
- **packer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/packer-vs-packet)

## Common misspellings (9)
`apcket`, `paccket`, `pacekt`, `packett`, `packket`, `packte`, `pakcet`, `pcaket`, `ppacket`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/packet