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

Your best bets here are the radish turnip cakes, soup dumplings and pork and shrimp shu mai, all $8 to $13. —Shindy Chen, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025

Get the recipe > This tender pork dish cooks low and slow in beef broth with tender corn and zucchini. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025

Kushikatsu options include everything from chicken, pork, and shrimp to eggplant, quail egg, and cherry tomato. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2025

The eatery serves Southern-style barbecue, including shredded pork, beef brisket, and legendary ribs. —Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 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