portico

noun

por·​ti·​co ˈpȯr-ti-ˌkō 

plural porticoes or porticos

: a colonnade or covered ambulatory especially in classical architecture and often at the entrance of a building

Illustration of portico

Examples of portico in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Diana Coldren, Compass, [phone] Rumford, Maine About 90 minutes from Portland, this 1898 fivebedroom with Greek Revival and Colonial Revival elements features symmetrical door and window placement and an entry portico with Doric columns. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026

Construction crews stripped the president's name from the exterior in June, but the front portico of the building has since been covered by a tarp, concealing most of its name. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Upon passing through a deep portico entryway abutting an attached two-car garage, a vaulted reception gallery sits beneath a prominent glass atrium. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026

The distinction becomes clear from the entrance, where a cantilevered teakwood portico, enveloped in climbing greenery, leads into a soaring lobby where classical Italian architecture meets a more contemporary design language. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin porticus — more at porch

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for portico

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

portico

noun

por·​ti·​co ˈpōrt-i-ˌkō 

ˈpȯrt-

plural porticoes or porticos

: a row of columns supporting a roof at the entrance of a building