Suitcase vs. Trunk: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sumera Saeed || Updated on September 26, 2023
A suitcase is a rectangular case with a handle for carrying clothes, while a trunk is a large box, typically for transporting or storing goods and garments.
Key Differences
Suitcase refers to a flat, rectangular luggage item with a handle, specifically designed for personal travel. These are often equipped with wheels and can be effortlessly carried. Trunk, on the other hand, is a bigger, bulkier storage box, often cube-shaped, traditionally made of wood and used for long-term storage or long voyages.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Modern-day suitcases are made using a variety of materials like hard plastic or fabric, and are equipped with zippers. They're convenient for air travel due to their size and design. Trunks have seen a decline in usage for travel purposes and are now more commonly used as storage solutions or decorative items.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
The term suitcase is derived from its very purpose: it's a case in which you put your suits or clothes. They can be easily stowed in overhead compartments or under seats. A trunk, conversely, gets its name from the trunk of a tree because of its sturdy nature, and it's designed to protect its contents over long journeys.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Suitcases usually have compartments, pockets, and straps inside to keep belongings organized and in place. Many modern suitcases also have locks or combination systems for security. Trunks, given their historical context, are simplistic in design, offering a large space without many compartments.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 26, 2023
In cultural contexts, a suitcase symbolizes travel, mobility, and modernity. It's an essential item for the global citizen. Trunks, however, carry a vintage or nostalgic charm, reminding us of a time when travel was a grand event requiring substantial preparation.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 26, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Suitcase and Trunk Definitions
Suitcase
A portable container for professional items.
The salesman opened his suitcase to display his products.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Trunk
A robust container, often made of wood.
The antique trunk had been in the family for generations.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Suitcase
A rectangular luggage piece for carrying clothes
She packed her suitcase for a week-long vacation.
Sara Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Trunk
A spacious chest for holding a vast array of items.
He opened the trunk to reveal a world of forgotten memories.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 26, 2023
Suitcase
A case with a handle for personal belongings.
He grabbed his suitcase and rushed to the airport.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
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Suitcase
A travel accessory often equipped with wheels.
Her rolling suitcase made navigating the terminal easier.
Harlon Moss
Sep 26, 2023
Suitcase
A briefcase used for holding documents.
She had all the contracts in her suitcase.
Harlon Moss
Sep 26, 2023
Suitcase
A large (usually rectangular) piece of luggage used for carrying clothes, and sometimes suits, when travelling.
My suitcase is stowed in the luggage rack.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Suitcase
A portable rectangular traveling bag for carrying clothes;
He carried his small bag onto the plane with him
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A covered compartment for luggage and storage, generally at the rear of an automobile.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A large packing case or box that clasps shut, used as luggage or for storage.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
The usually single, more or less upright part of a tree, between the roots and the branches.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
The conspicuously extended, mobile, nose-like organ of an animal such as a sengi, a tapir or especially an elephant. The trunks of various kinds of animals might be adapted to probing and sniffing, as in the sengis, or be partly prehensile, as in the tapir, or be a versatile prehensile organ for manipulation, feeding, drinking and fighting as in the elephant.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A large suitcase, chest, or similar receptacle for carrying or storing personal possessions, usually with a hinged, often domed lid, and handles at each end, so that generally it takes two persons to carry a full trunk.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A box or chest usually covered with leather, metal, or cloth, or sometimes made of leather, hide, or metal, for holding or transporting clothes or other goods.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
(automotive) A storage compartment fitted behind the seat of a motorcycle.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A chute or conduit, or a watertight shaft connecting two or more decks.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A long, large box, pipe, or conductor, made of plank or metal plates, for various uses, as for conveying air to a mine or to a furnace, water to a mill, grain to an elevator, etc.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
(archaic) A long tube through which pellets of clay, peas, etc., are driven by the force of the breath. A peashooter
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
(mining) A flume or sluice in which ores are separated from the slimes in which they are contained.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
(software engineering) In software projects under source control: the most current source tree, from which the latest unstable builds (so-called "trunk builds") are compiled.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
The main line or body of anything.
The trunk of a vein or of an artery, as distinct from the branches
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
(transport) A main line in a river, canal, railroad, or highway system.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
(architecture) The part of a pilaster between the base and capital, corresponding to the shaft of a column.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A large pipe forming the piston rod of a steam engine, of sufficient diameter to allow one end of the connecting rod to be attached to the crank, and the other end to pass within the pipe directly to the piston, thus making the engine more compact.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
To extract (ores) from the slimes in which they are contained, by means of a trunk.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
(telecommunication) To provide simultaneous network access to multiple clients by sharing a set of circuits, carriers, channels, or frequencies.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
The stem, or body, of a tree, apart from its limbs and roots; the main stem, without the branches; stock; stalk.
About the mossy trunk I wound me soon,For, high from ground, the branches would requireThy utmost reach.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
The main body of anything; as, the trunk of a vein or of an artery, as distinct from the branches.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
That part of a pilaster which is between the base and the capital, corresponding to the shaft of a column.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
That segment of the body of an insect which is between the head and abdomen, and bears the wings and legs; the thorax; the truncus.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A long tube through which pellets of clay, p as, etc., are driven by the force of the breath.
He shot sugarplums them out of a trunk.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A box or chest usually covered with leather, metal, or cloth, or sometimes made of leather, hide, or metal, for containing clothes or other goods; especially, one used to convey the effects of a traveler.
Locked up in chests and trunks.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A flume or sluice in which ores are separated from the slimes in which they are contained.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A large pipe forming the piston rod of a steam engine, of sufficient diameter to allow one end of the connecting rod to be attached to the crank, and the other end to pass within the pipe directly to the piston, thus making the engine more compact.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A long, large box, pipe, or conductor, made of plank or metal plates, for various uses, as for conveying air to a mine or to a furnace, water to a mill, grain to an elevator, etc.
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
The main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
Luggage consisting of a large strong case used when traveling or for storage
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
The body excluding the head and neck and limbs;
They moved their arms and legs and bodies
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
Compartment in an automobile that carries luggage or shopping or tools;
He put his golf bag in the trunk
Sumera Saeed
Mar 28, 2023
Trunk
A large box for storing or transporting goods.
They stored their winter clothes in a trunk in the attic.
Harlon Moss
Sep 26, 2023
Trunk
A luggage piece used historically for long voyages.
Grandma traveled across the sea with just one trunk.
Sara Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Trunk
A decorative furniture piece with vintage charm.
The trunk in the living room served as a coffee table.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
FAQs
Can suitcases have security features?
Yes, many modern suitcases have locks or combination systems.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
What is the primary use of a suitcase?
To carry personal belongings during travel.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
What is the trunk historically made of?
Traditionally, trunks were made of wood.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Is a suitcase larger than a trunk?
No, typically, trunks are larger and bulkier than suitcases.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Are trunks considered vintage items?
Yes, trunks often carry a vintage or nostalgic charm.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 26, 2023
Can a suitcase be used as a professional briefcase?
Some suitcases are designed like briefcases for holding documents.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Why is it called a trunk?
The term derives from the sturdiness of tree trunks, symbolizing durability.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 26, 2023
What material is a modern trunk made of?
Modern trunks can be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials.
Harlon Moss
Sep 26, 2023
Can a trunk be used as furniture?
Yes, some people use trunks as decorative tables or storage benches.
Sara Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Can I store my shoes in a suitcase?
Yes, suitcases often have compartments for shoes.
Harlon Moss
Sep 26, 2023
Are trunks commonly used for air travel today?
No, trunks are more for storage or decoration nowadays.
Sumera Saeed
Sep 26, 2023
Are suitcases always rectangular?
While many are, suitcases come in various shapes and sizes.
Harlon Moss
Sep 26, 2023
Were trunks used for sea voyages?
Yes, historically trunks were used for long sea journeys.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 26, 2023
Are suitcases durable?
The durability of a suitcase depends on its material and construction quality.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 26, 2023
How do I choose a good suitcase?
Consider size, material, compartments, security features, and brand reputation.
Sara Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
