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

Those men would become known as the Pullman porters. —Stephen Satterfield, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024

Vaulted Oak Brewing This bank-turned-brewery focuses on small-batch beers in various styles — like session-able blondes, lagers, West Coast IPAs, sours, saisons and porters. —Laura Barrero, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024

That did not deter Lhakpa, nor did her gender when boys in her village first got the opportunity to work as porters on mountain climbs. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 July 2024

Think a sommelier, animal tracker, driver, masseuse, porter, butler, culinary team, and beyond. —Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 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