A wallet is a small, flat case designed to hold money, cards, and important documents you need to carry with you. Most wallets fold in half and fit easily in a pocket or purse. Inside, you'll typically find compartments for cash, slots for credit cards or your student ID, and sometimes a clear window to display your photo ID.

Think of a wallet as a portable filing system for the most essential items you use in daily life: the money you might spend at lunch, the library card you need to check out books, or the emergency contact card your parents want you to carry. Adults keep their driver's licenses, health insurance cards, and payment cards in their wallets.

The word can also refer to how much money someone has available to spend. When something is “easy on the wallet,” it means it doesn't cost much money. If a family is watching their budget carefully, they might say they need to be mindful of their wallet.

People can develop strong attachments to their wallets because losing one creates major headaches: you lose your money and important cards, and they take time to replace. Many wallet owners try to build habits like always putting it in the same pocket or checking for it before leaving somewhere.