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

For mosquito protection on the go, try a portable Thermacell repeller that can fit in your back pocket or clip onto your belt. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

The range will include flagship home routers and whole-home mesh systems, as well as portable travel networking and client devices. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Noun

Gaming hardware also saw some Memorial Day discounts, and this Alienware portable is a midrange monster, straddling the gap between price and performance better than most. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026

This is the best option to keep your device portable. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026

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