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

As late as the 1930s, scholars would misidentify the porcelain as produced by other dynasties. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026

Give springtime florals a unique twist by modeling your nails after your favorite porcelain flower pot. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026

Use a porcelain pillbox as a tiny treasure chest so the tooth fairy knows exactly where to look. —Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026

Among the debris, researchers identified over 2,350 pieces of rare blue-and-white porcelain produced during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). —Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 24 Feb. 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