port of call

noun phrase

1
: an intermediate port where ships customarily stop for supplies, repairs, or transshipment of cargo
2
: a stop included on an itinerary

Examples of port of call in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Saudi Arabia might also seem like an obvious port of call for finance given his recent honor at the Red Sea Film Festival. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025 Our first port of call was Ibiza, Spain, an island known more for its club scene than as a cruise-ship destination. Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2025 Speakers reinforced the importance of aligning with unexpected cultural moments to cut through the social media noise and create emotional resonance among Gen Zs as the first port of call, while providing enhanced product and performance information for those who wish to lift the lid. Vogue Business, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2025 Cargo is frequently conducted this way, moving from one port of call to another via air, land or sea before ending up at its final destination with all the proper documentation. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for port of call

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of port of call was in 1838

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Port of call.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/port%20of%20call. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!