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

But Jackson wouldn’t leave Georgia, instead joining a number of freedmen who stayed in the Savannah area and found jobs as porters, housekeepers, and dockworkers. —Essence, 18 June 2024

White management likely turned to Black workers for caddie jobs because the occupation closely mirrored many other service roles fulfilled by African Americans, such as porters, attendants, and domestic servants. —Craig Gill / Made By History, TIME, 13 June 2024

In hotels, leave two to three euros per night for housekeeping, and tip porters approximately one euro per bag. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2024

To recognize the history of African Americans, the park service recently launched a study to add lynching sites in Tennessee; an Ohio stop on the Underground Railroad and an Illinois exhibition on the role Pullman porters played in creating the Black middle class. —Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 16 May 2024

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

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