portable

1 of 2

adjective

por·​ta·​ble ˈpȯr-tə-bəl 

1

a

: capable of being carried or moved about

portable electronic devices

b

: characterized by portability

a portable pension

workers with portable skills [=skills that can be applied at other jobs]

c

: usable on many computers with little or no modification

portable software

2

archaic : bearable

portably

ˈpȯr-tə-blē 

adverb

portable

2 of 2

noun

: something that is portable

Synonyms of portable

Adjective

• movable
• modular
• mobile
• adjustable

Examples of portable in a Sentence

Adjective

Portable devices such as MP3 players are becoming increasingly popular.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Despite its small size, this portable bag boasts a one-liter capacity that can carry all of your daily travel essentials, combining convenience, security, and style for anyone on the move. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025

These include electric vehicles with extended driving ranges, large-scale renewable energy storage systems that can balance intermittent solar and wind power, and lightweight, flexible power sources for portable and wearable electronics. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025

Noun

That's well more expensive than a simple portable cassette toilet or a dry separating toilet but is in line with other thermoelectric auto-sealing portables. —New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is a pint-sized portable with a detachable keyboard that offers impressive performance for a little more than $200. —PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin portabilis, from Latin portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for portable

• deportable
• exportable
• reportable
• supportable
• transportable
• insupportable
• unsupportable

Kids Definition

portable

adjective

por·​ta·​ble

ˈpōrt-ə-bəl,

ˈpȯrt-

: possible to carry or move about

a portable computer

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English portable "capable of being carried or moved about," from early French portable (same meaning), from Latin portabilis (same meaning), from earlier portare "to carry" — related to portfolio, transport