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

These little half-moon pastries, coated in crisp breadcrumbs, come with all sorts of fillings—shrimp, cod, and pork are the most common. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026

There’s a pork and applesauce take of moist roasted pork loin served with sauce made with apple butter, on a bed of buttery pureed potatoes and green beans with tiny pieces of strip bacon ($28). —Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026

The dish is made as a cake of sticky rice filled with pork. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026

The list included red dye 40, often used by turkey and pork farmers who pushed back against the bill, Butts said. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026

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