empaquetat

Empaquetat is a Catalan adjective and the past participle of the verb empaquetar. It designates items that have been wrapped or placed into packaging in preparation for transport, sale, or storage. The term is commonly used in commerce, logistics, labeling, and consumer communications to indicate that an item is not sold loose but is contained within packaging.

Origin and formation: Empaquetat is formed from the verb empaquetar, with the suffix -at forming the past participle/adjective in Catalan. The root empaquet- comes from the noun paquet, a word linked to the concept of a bundled package. The term thus travels from the idea of forming a packet to describe packaged items.

Usage notes: In practice, phrases such as "productes empaquetats" (packaged products), "menjar empaquetat" (packaged food), or references to packaging processes appear in product labeling and regulatory contexts. The term may be used alongside or interchangeably with other descriptors such as "envasat" or "embalat" in some dialects or contexts, though regional preferences vary. The notion of empaquetat is distinct from "a granel" (loose) and is often contrasted with items that are unpacked or sold without packaging.

See also: empaquetar, embalatge, envàs, envasat, a granel.