porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən How to pronounce porcelain (audio)
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
porcelainlike adjective
porcelaneous adjective
or porcellaneous

Examples of porcelain in a Sentence

The bowl is made of porcelain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From nearly 100,000 sports cards to collections of fingernail clippings, brewery coasters, oil lamps, gnomes, porcelain pigs, Elvis Presley or Princess Diana memorabilia and even taxidermy displays of tigers, the list was long. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025 According to San Angelo, the most common materials are cast iron (with a porcelain coating), acrylic, and fiberglass. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 20 July 2025 John brings home a porcelain doll for Mia, intending it as a gift for their baby. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 July 2025 In our suite, fantastical porcelain lamps from Ardmore satisfied the maximalist in me; a black, geometric ceramic side table by artist Chuma Maweni became perches for our morning coffee. Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for porcelain

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of porcelain was circa 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Porcelain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porcelain. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

porcelain

noun
por·​ce·​lain ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən How to pronounce porcelain (audio)
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- How to pronounce porcelain (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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