portable

1 of 2

adjective

por·​ta·​ble ˈpȯr-tə-bəl 

1

a

: capable of being carried or moved about

portable electronic devices

b

: characterized by portability

a portable pension

workers with portable skills [=skills that can be applied at other jobs]

c

: usable on many computers with little or no modification

portable software

2

archaic : bearable

portably

ˈpȯr-tə-blē 

adverb

portable

2 of 2

noun

: something that is portable

Synonyms of portable

Adjective

• movable
• modular
• mobile
• adjustable

Examples of portable in a Sentence

Adjective

Portable devices such as MP3 players are becoming increasingly popular.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The result is a far more portable and slightly more powerful laptop than what Apple released just months ago in 2026. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026

Smaller than an iPhone, this portable charger can power up your phone and Apple Watch at the same time. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2026

Noun

Grass-fed, portable, and 28 to a box, they are loved for a reason. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 23 Oct. 2026

Built for rapid deployment without heavy logistics The system is small, compact, and field-portable and built for rapid deployment without heavy logistics. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin portabilis, from Latin portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for portable

• deportable
• exportable
• reportable
• supportable
• transportable
• insupportable
• unsupportable

Kids Definition

portable

adjective

por·​ta·​ble

ˈpōrt-ə-bəl, 

ˈpȯrt-

: possible to carry or move about

a portable computer

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English portable "capable of being carried or moved about," from early French portable (same meaning), from Latin portabilis (same meaning), from earlier portare "to carry" — related to portfolio, transport