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

Participants can also spend a half day touring Fukuoka, take a day trip to Arita, the birthplace of Japanese porcelain, and sample local whiskey with an expert. —Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2025

Their mother threw annual parties attended by Parisian and Russian cultural elites, and the family amassed an impressive collection of porcelain, silver, cut glass and other fine objects, some of which are on view in the exhibition. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2025

Related Articles As for the culinary counterpart, dishes will be served on porcelain sets hailing from the Swarovski x Rosenthal collections, designed by the brand’s global creative director Giovanna Engelbert. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 4 June 2025

Over the past year, the Al-Nassr striker has added investments in wearable tech company Whoop, porcelain manufacturer Vista Alegre and supplement brand Bioniq. —Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 15 May 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