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

The lobby, reminiscent of a living room, is designed with a mix of rattan lanterns, locally made ceramics, antique blue-and-white porcelain plates, potted plants, and piles of books. —Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026

The second slide revealed the interior of one of the home’s bathrooms equipped with a small square window cut into the porcelain wall tile. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026

When lunch is served, my fold-over wooden lap table is laid with a heavy-duty white napkin, and food arrives on porcelain plates with mini salt and pepper shakers. —Sophie Prideaux, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026

Bar Keepers Friend is suitable for metal, porcelain, glass, and more. —Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 27 Jan. 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