portico

noun

por·​ti·​co ˈpȯr-ti-ˌkō How to pronounce portico (audio)
plural porticoes or porticos
: a colonnade or covered ambulatory especially in classical architecture and often at the entrance of a building

Illustration of portico

Illustration of portico

Examples of portico in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Across from her pink building there is a fruit stand shaded by a stone portico. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2024 Brackets on both sides of the doors hold up miniature porticos, echoing the main house’s design. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2024 After her death in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, mourners passed by her casket outside the building, on the portico at the top of the steps. CBS News, 18 Dec. 2023 Size: 1,791 square feet Price per square foot: $723 Indoors: A flight of stairs leads up from the brick sidewalk to the entrance, sheltered by a simple portico. Angela Serratore, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2024 Beyond the portico entry, the double-height foyer’s grand staircase and inlaid marble floor are bathed in light that pours through a massive skylight. Mark David, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2023 Especially standing out is a portico entryway that opens into an eye-catching foyer displaying a vaulted ceiling and staircase. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Nov. 2023 Opened in June, it’s already abuzz with travelers and trendy locals enjoying aperitifs beneath the porticoes on the ground floor of Il Caffé. Michelle Gross, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2023 Before making its way through the countryside to Florence, the Path of Gods winds for four miles along Bologna’s streets, beneath the city’s porticoes. Sheila Yasmin Marikar Susan Wright, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'portico.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin porticus — more at porch

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of portico was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near portico

Cite this Entry

“Portico.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portico. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

portico

noun
por·​ti·​co ˈpōrt-i-ˌkō How to pronounce portico (audio)
ˈpȯrt-
plural porticoes or porticos
: a row of columns supporting a roof at the entrance of a building
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!