porthole

noun

port·​hole ˈpȯrt-ˌhōl How to pronounce porthole (audio)
1
: an opening (such as a window) with a cover or closure especially in the side of a ship or aircraft
2
: a port through which to shoot
3

Examples of porthole 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.
What began as a mother’s attempt to capture a picture-perfect vacation moment aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream ended in tragedy, as police say a 5-year-old girl plunged from a deck after being encouraged to climb into an open porthole. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025 There is no porthole, but dents in the wall mark where nails must once have held up maps or schedules, maybe photographs from home, and slotted into a niche in the wall is a small gilt mirror. Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025 Eliminating window portholes can also reduce steps in the construction process, which the company says should help lower manufacturing costs. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025 Three levels down, visitors can peer all the way up through the saltwater and the flotilla of fish thanks to a huge oculus — a 31-foot-wide angled porthole — at the tank’s bottom. Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for porthole

Word History

Etymology

port entry 2

First Known Use

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of porthole was in 1569

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Porthole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porthole. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

porthole

noun
port·​hole ˈpōrt-ˌhōl How to pronounce porthole (audio)
ˈpȯrt-
1
: an opening in the side of a ship or aircraft
2
: an opening to shoot through

More from Merriam-Webster on porthole

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!