portable

[pawr-tuh-buhl, pohr-]

adjective

1. capable of being transported or conveyed.

   a portable stage.

2. easily carried or conveyed by hand.

   I found a lightweight, portable propane stove for our trekking holiday.

3. Computers.,  (of data sets, software, etc.) capable of being used on different computer systems.

4. Obsolete.,  endurable.

noun

1. something that is easily carried by hand, especially as distinguished from a counterpart that is harder or less convenient to move.

   Of their three television sets, one is a portable.

portable

/ ˈpɔːtəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be carried or moved easily, esp by hand

2. (of software, files, etc) able to be transferred from one type of computer system to another

3. archaic,  able to be endured; bearable

noun

1. an article designed to be readily carried by hand, such as a television, typewriter, etc

Other Word Forms

• portably adverb
• nonportable adjective
• unportable adjective
• portability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of portable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin portābilis; port ⁵, -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of portable¹

C14: from Late Latin portābilis, from Latin portāre to carry

Example Sentences

A portable TV is programmed to play only episodes of “The Simpsons” and offers a clever critique of the streaming era’s tyranny of choice.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

For decades, people used portable garden sprayers—knapsack-style water blasters—to wash debris from sidewalks.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

To adapt, clubs often travel with portable screens in flight cases, ensuring their set-up is the same irrespective of which changing room or hotel they hold their meetings in.

Read more on BBC

DiGiorgio said players are starting to play music in the locker room again, the offensive lineman bringing in his own portable sound system for everyone to enjoy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Cream-based dips can get coagulated in the heat and stiff in the cold, especially if you don’t have a portable heating device, so a neutral mixed bean dip is definitely the way to go.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• compact 
• convenient 
• handy 
• lightweight