A knapsack, sometimes mounted on a light frame, but always supported by straps, worn on a person’s back for the purpose of carrying things, especially when hiking, or on a student's back when carrying books.
"The hiker adjusted her backpack to ensure it was securely strapped before setting off on the trail."
In plain English: A backpack is a bag with two straps that you wear over your shoulders to carry things on your back.
"She wore her blue backpack to school today."
Usage: A backpack is specifically designed with shoulder straps to distribute weight comfortably across your shoulders while you carry items. Unlike a standard bag that may rest on your hands or hips, this design allows for stable transport of heavy loads during hiking and camping trips.
to hike and camp overnight in backcountry with one's gear carried in a backpack
"We decided to backpack through the Sierra Nevada mountains during our summer vacation."
In plain English: To backpack means to carry something on your back while you walk around, usually with a heavy bag full of stuff.
"She packed her books and backpacked to college last year."
The word backpack is a straightforward combination of the words back and pack that entered English to describe an item carried on one's back. Its meaning has remained consistent since its formation, referring specifically to a bag designed for this purpose.