porcelain

noun

por·​ce·​lain ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən How to pronounce porcelain (audio)
1
: a hard, fine-grained, sonorous, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and a feldspathic rock and is fired at a high temperature

called also hard-paste porcelain, true porcelain

2
porcelainlike adjective
porcelaneous adjective
or porcellaneous

Examples of porcelain in a Sentence

The bowl is made of porcelain.
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.
The Pixel 9 is available in four colors, peony, wintergreen, porcelain and obsidian. David Phelan, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 Non-Porous Surfaces Plastic, white porcelain, and glass aren't the only non-porous surfaces that can handle bleach. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2025 Another artist covered metal bars, reminiscent of a cell or cage, in porcelain. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025 Related Articles Gudrun was the fruit of a partnership between Bordallo Pinheiro and fellow Portuguese porcelain and crystal maker Vista Alegre, which celebrated their 200-year anniversary in 2024. Sofia Celeste, WWD, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for porcelain

Word History

Etymology

Middle French porcelaine cowrie shell, porcelain, from Italian porcellana, from porcello vulva, literally, little pig, from Latin porcellus, diminutive of porcus pig, vulva; from the shape of the shell — more at farrow

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of porcelain was circa 1530

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Porcelain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porcelain. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

porcelain

noun
por·​ce·​lain ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən How to pronounce porcelain (audio)
ˈpȯr-
: a hard white ceramic ware used especially for dishes and chemical utensils

Medical Definition

porcelain

noun
por·​ce·​lain ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən, ˈpȯr- How to pronounce porcelain (audio)
: a hard, fine-grained, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar and that has many uses in dentistry
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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