porter

1 of 3

noun (1)

por·​ter ˈpȯr-tər 

plural porters

chiefly British

: a person stationed at a door or gate to admit or assist those entering

porter

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural porters

1

: a person who carries burdens

especially : one employed to carry baggage for patrons at a hotel or transportation terminal

2

: a parlor-car or sleeping-car attendant who waits on passengers and makes up berths

3

[short for porter's beer] : a heavy dark brown ale typically brewed from browned or charred malt

4

: a person who does routine cleaning (as in a hospital or office)

porter

3 of 3

verb

portered; portering; porters

transitive verb

: to transport or carry as or as if by a porter

intransitive verb

: to act as a porter

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• doorkeeper
• doorman
• gatekeeper
• janitor

Examples of porter in a Sentence

Noun (1)

he generously tipped the porter for hailing a taxi

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In December 2023, he was arrested by the police while working as a porter at a local vegetable market. —Zia Ur-Rehman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

When the consistency of the soap mixture downstairs is ready — usually after a week of boiling on and off — porters carry it up the stairs in metal buckets, one after another, spreading it on the floor to harden. —Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025

Verb

Sang Hnin Lian said Chin people have been used as human shields in war in the past, and forced to porter or guide the military. —Helen Regan, CNN, 5 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin portarius, from Latin porta gate — more at port

Noun (2)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1609, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing porter

• pret-a-porter

Rhymes for porter

• mortar
• quarter
• shorter
• sorter
• colporteur
• exporter
• headquarter
• importer
• reporter
• supporter
• transporter

Kids Definition

porter

1 of 2 noun

por·​ter ˈpōrt-ər 

ˈpȯrt-

chiefly British

: doorkeeper

porter

2 of 2 noun

1

: a person who carries baggage (as at a hotel)

2

: a railroad employee who waits on passengers

3

: a dark heavy ale

Biographical Definition

Porter 1 of 7

biographical name (1)

Por·​ter ˈpȯr-tər 

Cole Albert 1891–1964 American songwriter

Porter

2 of 7

biographical name (2)

David 1780–1843 and his son David Dixon 1813–1891 American naval officers

Porter

3 of 7

biographical name (3)

Eliot Furness 1901–1990 American photographer

Porter

4 of 7

biographical name (4)

Gene 1868–1924 née Stratton American novelist

Porter

5 of 7

biographical name (5)

Katherine Anne 1890–1980 American writer

Porter

6 of 7

biographical name (6)

Noah 1811–1892 American philosopher and lexicographer

Porter

7 of 7

biographical name (7)

William Sydney 1862–1910 pseudonym O. Henry (ˈ)ō-ˈhen-rē  American short-story writer