escort

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noun

es·​cort ˈe-ˌskȯrt 

plural escorts

1

a(1)

: a person or group of persons accompanying another to give protection, provide supervision, or as a courtesy

a police escort

Visitors are not allowed to enter the building without an escort.

(2)

: a man who goes with a woman to a social event

(3)

: a person and especially a sex worker who is hired to go with someone to a social event

—often used before another noun

an escort service/agency

b

: a protective screen of warships or fighter planes or a single ship or plane used to fend off enemy attack from one or more vulnerable craft

2

: accompaniment by a person or an armed protector (such as a ship)

escort

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verb

es·​cort i-ˈskȯrt 

e-,

ˈe-ˌskȯrt 

escorted; escorting; escorts

transitive verb

: to accompany as an escort

Synonyms

Noun

• attendant
• companion
• guard
• guide

Verb

• accompany
• attend
• chaperone
• chaperon
• companion
• company
• convoy
• see
• squire

Examples of escort in a Sentence

Noun

Visitors are not allowed to enter the building without an escort.

The bombers were protected by a fighter escort.

Everyone was surprised when she arrived at the party without an escort.

Verb

Several fighters escorted the bombers back to base.

a student from the college escorted my parents and me on our tour of the campus

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a heartbreaking moment long after the terrible incident has taken place, Yuen shows his vulnerability by breaking down in tears of shame after hiring an escort and being robbed by her employers before anything happens. —Richard Kuipers, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024

Meanwhile, Kloss worked as a care escort for Planned Parenthood patients, and founded the Gateway Coalition, a collective that funds clinics providing reproductive healthcare in the Midwest. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Verb

The new families, arriving in long columns of vans, coaches and trucks escorted by police cars, were greeted by red banners and traditional Tibetan dances, social media footage shows. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Once at the Blood Center, I was escorted to a spacious donation room where two other donors were already hooked up to their blood machines. —Pia Velasco, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French escorte, from Italian scorta, from scorgere to guide, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigere, from Latin ex- + corrigere to make straight, correct — more at correct

First Known Use

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1708, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing escort

• destroyer escort

Kids Definition

escort

1 of 2 noun

es·​cort ˈes-ˌkȯ(ə)rt 

1

: a person or group of persons accompanying another to give protection or show courtesy

2

: the man who goes on a date with a woman

3

: a protective screen of vehicles, warships, or planes

motorcycle escort

fighter escort

escort

2 of 2 verb

es·​cort is-ˈkȯ(ə)rt  es-ˈ 

ˈes-ˌ

: to go along with as an escort