teabag

teabag — noun

1. a small paper or cloth packet with dried tea leaves inside, used to make a singl

1.nounB1
Definition

a small paper or cloth packet with dried tea leaves inside, used to make a single cup of tea by adding hot water

Example

Chiara dropped a teabag into her cup and poured hot water over it.

article + teabag + preposition (into)

The store sells both loose tea leaves and teabags for home brewing.

plural: teabags as a countable product

Common collocations
  • steep a teabag
  • dunk a teabag
  • use a teabag
  • teabag in a cup
  • a box of teabags
Synonyms
  • tea bag

    variant two-word spelling, equally common in older or more formal texts

Grammar Patterns

teabag + verb (steep / brew / dunk)

a teabag

teabags (plural)

Usage Note

Often shortened to 'bag' in informal spoken contexts, e.g. 'another bag in the pot?'

Common Mistakes

I bought some tea bags from the supermarket.
I bought some teabags from the supermarket.
'teabag' is usually written as one word in modern English, though 'tea bag' is also accepted.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Teabag' (one word) is the standard modern spelling for the small paper packet of tea leaves. 'Tea bag' (two words) means the same thing but is less common in current usage; you may still see it on older packaging. A 'tea infuser' is a reusable metal or silicone device that holds loose tea leaves — unlike a teabag, it is not disposable. 'Loose tea' refers to tea leaves sold without any bag or infuser, so the drinker must strain them. For quick everyday tea, most English speakers say 'teabag': 'I'll just use a teabag.' For a more ceremonial brew, 'loose tea' or a 'tea infuser' would be mentioned instead.

teabag ↗tea bagtea infuserloose tea

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishChineseDutchEnglish

A compound word formed from 'tea' (borrowed via Dutch 'thee' from Chinese 茶 'chá', from Min Nan Chinese tê) and 'bag' (from Old Norse 'baggi' — a bundle or pack). The first known use in English dates to the late 19th century, though the modern commercial teabag did not become widely popular until the 1950s.