Phrase guide

mixed bag

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any bag containing a mixture of something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a mixed bag of nuts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A group of entities with few characteristics in common.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

Examples

  • The people I met at the support group were a mixed bag: some were grouchy pessimists, and others were cheery do-gooders.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: assortment, rattlebag

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Owning a car is a mixed bag. It is convenient, but also costly.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a great assortment of cars was on display
  • he had a variety of disorders
  • a veritable smorgasbord of religions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: assortment, mixture, miscellany, miscellanea, variety, salmagundi, smorgasbord, potpourri, motley

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: collection, aggregation, accumulation, assemblage

Narrower terms: grab bag, witches' brew, witches' broth, witch's brew, range, selection, odds and ends, oddments, melange, farrago, ragbag, mishmash, mingle-mangle, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, gallimaufry, omnium-gatherum, alphabet soup, sampler

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: sekoitus — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Finnish: lajitelma — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • French: mélange — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • French: assortiment — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Italian: fritto misto — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Italian: assortimento — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Italian: miscuglio — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Italian: guazzabuglio — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Italian: accozzaglia — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Polish: mieszanka — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Spanish: cajón de sastre — a group of entities with few characteristics in common
  • Finnish: puolensa kullakin — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages
  • Finnish: puolensa ja puolensa — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages
  • French: il y a à boire et à manger — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages
  • French: il y a du bon et du moins bon — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages
  • Polish: mieszanka — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages
  • Spanish: bolsa mixta — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages
  • Spanish: poco de todo — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages
  • Spanish: cajón de sastre — idiom about a mixture of advantages and disadvantages