portable

1 of 2

adjective

por·​ta·​ble ˈpȯr-tə-bəl 

1

a

: capable of being carried or moved about

a portable TV

b

: characterized by portability

a portable pension

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

Adjective

• mobile
• modular
• movable
• moveable

Examples of portable in a Sentence

Adjective

Portable devices such as MP3 players are becoming increasingly popular.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The AirPods Max offer a more premium design, while the QuietComfort Ultras are lighter and more portable, but Sony either matches or outperforms both in the key areas that matter most—sound quality, noise cancellation, and battery life. —PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025

According to The War Zone, the Venezuelan military has small numbers of modern anti-ship missiles and long-range anti-aircraft missiles, in addition to a large supply of portable Igla-S anti-air missiles that Maduro said are scattered throughout the country. —Davis Winkie, USA Today, 24 Oct. 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