pork

noun

ˈpȯrk 

1

: the fresh or salted flesh of swine when dressed for food

2

: government funds, jobs, or favors distributed by politicians to gain political advantage

Examples of pork in a Sentence

We need to cut the pork out of the federal budget.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shred your pork and serve it on buns with slaw, or even use it as a taco filling. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025

Uncover the Dutch oven, turn over the pork pieces and stir in the lemon zest-olive mixture. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025

As a threat to Spain’s $10 billion annual pork export industry, local authorities are taking this outbreak extremely seriously. —Andrew Noymer, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025

Winter already feels warmer with visions of charred cabbage and lemony pork-shoulder ragù stuck to glossy tubes of paccheri and showered in a mix of grated parm and pecorino. —Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French porc pig, from Latin porcus — more at farrow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pork

• pork barrel
• pork belly
• pork rind
• salt pork

Rhymes for pork

• bork
• dork
• fork
• stork
• torque
• pitchfork

Video

Words of the Year: 1066

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

Kids Definition

pork

noun

ˈpō(ə)rk 

ˈpȯ(ə)rk

1

: the flesh of a pig used for food

2

: government funds, jobs, or favors distributed by politicians to gain political advantage

Etymology

Middle English pork "meat from a pig," from early French porc "pig," from Latin porcus "pig" — related to porcupine, porpoise see Word History at porpoise