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

The work horses bring home the pork for the state that sent them there. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025

The apple bourbon barbecue pulled pork pizza uses pork roasted in-house. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2025

The banh mi Vietnamese sandwiches are typically served on French baguettes filled with pork, pickled vegetables and other fillings. —Kat Tran, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025

Money was raised at the Pie Auction & BBQ not only by auctioning desserts, but with sales of $15 barbecue meals that included beef, pork and turkey with side dishes. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 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