-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SuwiI6ePH/UxCqf8rp4htT9sLMByGXa/+VXew6JMes7BZez/sTyQlK0w/l50CV0y
 /z9fTaErwoMZwkluoGuL5g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001159297-08-000147.txt : 20081121
<SEC-HEADER>0001159297-08-000147.hdr.sgml : 20081121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081121084138
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001159297-08-000147
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WATKINS MARK T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001166680

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31215
		FILM NUMBER:		081205397

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9374953710

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		ONE HIGH RIDGE PARK
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEADWESTVACO CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159297
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPER MILLS [2621]
		IRS NUMBER:				311797999
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HIGH RIDGE PARK
		STREET 2:		_
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2034617500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HIGH RIDGE PARK
		STREET 2:		_
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			2034617500

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MW HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20010918
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001159297</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEADWESTVACO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MWV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166680</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WATKINS MARK T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11013 WEST BROAD STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLEN ALLEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23060</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.3169</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24234</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John J. carrara/POA/ dated 8/27/02</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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