escort

1 of 2

noun

es·​cort ˈe-ˌskȯrt 

1

a(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/agency

b

: 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)

escort

2 of 2

verb

es·​cort i-ˈskȯrt 

e-,

ˈe-ˌskȯrt 

escorted; escorting; escorts

transitive verb

: to accompany as an escort

Synonyms

Noun

• attendant
• companion
• guard
• guide

Verb

• accompany
• attend
• chaperone
• chaperon
• companion
• company
• convoy
• see
• squire

Examples of escort in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Verb

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 on the Web

Noun

As the real Starlight escorts President Singer into a secure bunker, we’re left feeling like the Boys might just pull this off. —Alex Raiman, EW.com, 18 July 2024

The carrier and its escorts were last in the Philippine Sea from from late October to early November last year. —David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024

Verb

Listen to this article Loading your audio article New video released by attorneys for former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis shows the exact moment he was detained and escorted off a United Airlines plane by federal agents. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 July 2024

Binzel, who has led the charge for Apophis missions, said there is also some symbolic value to having a spacecraft escort the asteroid by Earth. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 20 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1708, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing escort

• destroyer escort

Kids Definition

escort

1 of 2 noun

es·​cort ˈes-ˌkȯ(ə)rt 

1

: a person or group of persons accompanying another to give protection or show courtesy

2

: the man who goes on a date with a woman

3

: a protective screen of vehicles, warships, or planes

motorcycle escort

fighter escort

escort

2 of 2 verb

es·​cort is-ˈkȯ(ə)rt  es-ˈ 

ˈes-ˌ

: to go along with as an escort