port of entry

noun phrase

1
: a place where foreign goods may be cleared through a customhouse
2
: a place (such as an airport or border crossing) where a person may be permitted to enter a country

Examples of port of entry 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.
Patricia Elizee, a local immigration attorney not connected to this specific case, said immigration officers at ports of entry have wide-ranging discretion. Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 9 June 2026 In July, American officials closed southern ports of entry with Mexico to livestock trade. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 June 2026 In May 2025, the agency suspended the import of live animals through US ports of entry along the southern border, Rollins said. Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 June 2026 The area is rich in history, with nearby Bath (the state’s first port of entry), and museums like the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum. Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for port of entry

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of port of entry was in 1714

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Port of entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/port%20of%20entry. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster