porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən 

1

: a hard, fine-grained, sonorous, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and a feldspathic rock and is fired at a high temperature

called also hard-paste porcelain, true porcelain

2

: soft-paste porcelain

porcelainlike

ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən-ˌlīk 

adjective

porcelaneous adjective

or porcellaneous

ˌpȯr-sə-ˈlā-nē-əs 

Examples of porcelain in a Sentence

The bowl is made of porcelain.

Recent Examples on the Web

Full Smile Makeover Antalya has become one of the busiest destinations for smile makeovers, combining cosmetic procedures such as porcelain veneers with restorative treatments including crowns, bridges and dental implants. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

Marble Lookalikes Chastain is also tired of seeing white porcelain tiles with with gray veining, designed to resemble marble. — Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 14 July 2026

West Penn Power said workers installed bird and squirrel guards and replaced an older porcelain-style lightning arrestor with a newer polymer model. — Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 13 July 2026

So far, large quantities of undamaged Chinese porcelain have been identified, together with parts of chandeliers, goblets, bottles and barrels of grain. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French porcelaine cowrie shell, porcelain, from Italian porcellana, from porcello vulva, literally, little pig, from Latin porcellus, diminutive of porcus pig, vulva; from the shape of the shell — more at farrow

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing porcelain

• hard-paste porcelain
• porcelain enamel
• soft-paste porcelain
• true porcelain

Kids Definition

porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən 

ˈpȯr-

: a hard white ceramic ware used especially for dishes and chemical utensils

Medical Definition

porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən, ˈpȯr- 

: a hard, fine-grained, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar and that has many uses in dentistry