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 residential-style rooms are elegant and comfortable thanks to Swedish Duxiana beds, Byredo shower amenities, and oversized soaking tubs in porcelain bathrooms. —Sara Liss, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025

Dessert trays of Stella-logoed vanilla shortbread, panna cotta layered with mango and passionfruit, and coffee-chocolate mousse in porcelain cups proved irresistible. —Sasha Pinto, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2025

The porcelain blue is especially tempting. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025

Homeware is already lightly integrated through Café Kitsuné, which offers a small range of porcelain and ceramics. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025

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