porcelain

1 of 2

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 

porcelaneous

2 of 2

adjective

por·​ce·​la·​neous

variants or porcellaneous

¦⸗sə¦lānēəs 

: of, relating to, or resembling porcelain

porcelaneous shells

porcelaneous glass

Examples of porcelain in a Sentence

Noun

The bowl is made of porcelain.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

White porcelain paired with aged brass feels more timeless than trendy. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2026

Born in Arita, home of Imari porcelain, Tatebayashi studied ceramics at Kyoto City University of Arts before moving to London to study at the Royal College of Art. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Gayle Conran Each of the ryokans served set meals, kaiseki-style, elaborately arranged, with an array of 12 or more small lacquer and porcelain dishes. — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

In September 2025, thieves snatched three porcelain works worth millions of dollars and classed as national treasures in a heist at the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges in central France. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Adjective

Italian porcellana porcelain + English -eous

First Known Use

Noun

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