A satchel is a bag with a shoulder strap, typically used for carrying books, papers, or personal belongings. Picture a sturdy bag that hangs at your side, leaving your hands free: that's a satchel. Teachers often carry satchels filled with papers to grade, and students might use them instead of backpacks.

The classic satchel has a flap that buckles or snaps closed over the top, though the word now describes various styles of shoulder bags. What makes something a satchel rather than just any bag is usually its structured shape and the way it's meant to be carried across the body or over one shoulder.

Satchels became popular with schoolchildren in Europe, where students would walk or bike to school with their satchels bouncing at their sides. Indiana Jones famously carried a weathered satchel on his adventures, and you might spot mail carriers using leather satchels to deliver letters. The word suggests something more purposeful and organized than a simple tote bag: a satchel is for people who need to keep their important items secure and accessible while on the move.