A purse is a long, narrow bag with a strap that can be carried on your shoulder or across your body. It is typically made of leather and can be used for holding all sorts of things, from small accessories to personal belongings.
A handbag is a medium-to-large, handled accessory that primarily carries personal items. It is typically used by women to carry their essentials and often includes a wallet.
Originally a small purse was intended to hold money and it still holds that meaning in some places. However, the word handbag has become popular in society’s vocabulary and is now the primary term for a bag that women carry on their shoulder.
Purses have a variety of styles and sizes, including satchels, messenger bags, casual backpacks, belt bags, tote bags and more. Some purses have multiple compartments and some may even have an interior zippered pocket.
One of the most important characteristics to look for in a purse is organization. A purse with two identical zippered compartments side by side can be frustrating to find the right one when you need it and it can also make it harder to keep track of your stuff, especially if it’s a large purse.
The best purses have a single large compartment with a zipper closure that can easily be found. There should be a small outer pocket on one side that zips shut as well. It should be about as wide as a standard iPad is tall and it should be rigid enough to hold all your stuff without being too floppy or squishy.
WEEKXING Crossbody Bag for Women Shoulder Handbags Top-Handle Lightweight Large Capacity Casual Nylon Purse Handbag
$24.99 (as of December 28, 2025 19:54 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Sightor Silver Mini Crossbody Bag for Women, PU Leather Small Evening Purse, Dressy Clutch Handbag for Nightclub Parties
$12.99 (as of December 28, 2025 19:54 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Women's RFID Slim Card Holder Wallet: Thin Bifold with Multi-Card Case & Zipper Coin Pocket Purse (Deep Purple)
$8.99 (as of December 28, 2025 19:54 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
TOPDesign Personalized Initial Canvas Beach Bag, Monogrammed Gift Tote Bag for Women
$17.99 (as of December 28, 2025 19:54 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
BAGSMART Tote Bag for Women, Lightweight Puffy Tote Bag with Compartments Shoulder Bag Handbag for Travel, Work, Gym
$25.26 (as of December 28, 2025 19:54 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
XquiziFit Clutch Purses for Women Formal Evening Clutch with Detachable Chain Faux Suede Purse for Wedding Party
$15.59 (as of December 28, 2025 19:54 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Lapensa Cute Small Wallet for Women,Colour-blocked Slim Wallet RFID Blocking Bifold Zipper Pocket Credit Card Holder with ID Window (Pink)
$5.69 (as of December 28, 2025 19:54 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Auto Amazon Links: No products found. http_request_failed: A valid URL was not provided. URL: https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?SearchIndex=All&multipageStart=0&multipageCount=20&Operation=GetResults&Keywords=What+Is+a+Purse%3F|Purses+%26+Handbags&InstanceId=0&TemplateId=MobileSearchResults&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US Cache: AAL_1299b888fad6972f78e6eb9a6ed1b8ec