escort

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noun es·cort \ˈe-ˌskȯrt\

Definition of escort

1a (1) : a person or group of persons accompanying another to give protection or as a courtesy (2) : a man who goes with a woman to a social event (3) : a woman or a man who is hired to go with someone to a social event —often used before another noun an escort service/agencyb : a protective screen of warships or fighter planes or a single ship or plane used to fend off enemy attack from one or more vulnerable craft
2 : accompaniment by a person or an armed protector (such as a ship)

See escort defined for English-language learners

See escort defined for kids

Examples of escort in a Sentence

Visitors are not allowed to enter the building without an escort.
The bombers were protected by a fighter escort.
Everyone was surprised when she arrived at the party without an escort.

Recent Examples of escort from the Web

Direct support, like volunteering as a clinic escort or defender, or organizing with the clinic to develop an abortion doula service are two possibilities.

— cindy crabb, Teen Vogue, "How Jane Helped 11,000 Women Get Abortions When The Procedure Was Outlawed", 1 July 2017
Federal prosecutors say four more defendants have been charged with conspiring to rob people who responded to online ads for escort services.

— tony rizzo, kansascity, "More people charged with luring armed robbery victims through online sex ads", 29 June 2017
About 175 people have been briefly allowed back to their homes near Panguitch Lake since Sunday under escort, said Denise Dastrup with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.

— Washington Post, "Utah wildfire grows as 2 powerful California blazes spread", 27 June 2017
The number of people volunteering as clinic escorts and defenders has surged since November, providing a critical support system that helps patients get into the clinic safely.

— rebecca grant, Cosmopolitan, "She Told a Guy She Worked at an Abortion Clinic. On Their Next Date, He Raped Her.", 26 June 2017
The number of people volunteering as clinic escorts and defenders has surged since November, providing a critical support system that helps patients get into the clinic safely.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Man raped date after she said she worked at an abortion clinic", 26 June 2017
Cells of the body use glucose for fuel, but to be effective, glucose must first be admitted into the cells and this requires an escort.

— bryant stamford, The Courier-Journal, "Yes, there are good carbs. Here's what to eat, and the ones to avoid", 22 June 2017
Expense Report Oversight That now-infamous business outing to a South Korean escort bar, which reportedly prompted a female employee to complain, certainly shouldn't be happening again.

— alyssa newcomb, NBC News, "Uber Internal Review: 4 Things We Learned About Its Culture", 14 June 2017
A State Patrol escort will guide a hearse carrying Oxford’s casket 50 miles south on Interstate 75 from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to the funeral home.

— jonathan landrum jr., The Seattle Times, "WWII veteran’s remains return home after missing 74 years", 8 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'escort'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of escort

Middle French escorte, from Italian scorta, from scorgere to guide, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigere, from Latin ex- + corrigere to make straight, correct — more at correct

NEW!

First Known Use: 1579

See Words from the same year

escort

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verb es·cort \i-ˈskȯrt, e-, ˈe-ˌskȯrt\

Definition of escort

transitive verb
: to accompany as an escort

See escort defined for English-language learners

Examples of escort in a Sentence

Several fighters escorted the bombers back to base.
a student from the college escorted my parents and me on our tour of the campus

Recent Examples of escort from the Web

The grooms walked down the aisle escorted by both sets of parents, who then stood beside them with their best men during the ceremony.

— alexandra macon, Vogue, "A Sophisticated Wedding Celebration at the High Line Hotel in New York City", 3 July 2017
Fortunately, the spoon allowed me to scrape up every last drop without getting escorted to the door.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Chicago", 30 June 2017
When my slot arrived, I was escorted into the space and given a final rundown of how things worked.

— david denicolo, Allure, "What the Emirates First Class Shower Suite Is Really Like", 27 June 2017
A Coast Guard cutter escorted the vessel to Freeport, Texas.

— kevin mcgill, The Seattle Times, "Boy killed by log in surf as tropical storm churns in Gulf", 21 June 2017
Lucky for the Naperville woman, a passing kayaker was able to collar Charlie and escorted him to bank just before her point of no return.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Every dog has his day", 20 June 2017
After the attorney general reads aloud the formal commission, Justice Gorsuch will be escorted up to his seat, the chief justice will make a few welcoming remarks, and the court will adjourn.

— kenneth w. starr, WSJ, "Gorsuch Gets Comfortable in Scalia’s Chair", 14 June 2017
Jews attempting to pray on the Mount are escorted away.

— yossi klein halevi, The Atlantic, "The Astonishing Israeli Concession of 1967", 7 June 2017
The owner can also call the cops to escort you, the trespasser, off the premises.

— andrea sachs, chicagotribune.com, "You're on plane. A situation is brewing. Should you record it?", 22 May 2017

First Known Use of escort

1708

ESCORT Defined for English Language Learners

escort

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verb

Definition of escort for English Language Learners

: to go with (someone or something) to give protection or guidance

ESCORT Defined for Kids

escort

play

noun es·cort \ˈe-ˌskȯrt\

Definition of escort for Students

1 : a person or group that accompanies someone to give protection or show courtesy a police escort
2 : the man who goes with a woman to a social event