portable

American  

[pawr-tuh-buhl, pohr-] / ˈpɔr tə bəl, ˈpoʊr- /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of portable

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

Explanation

If something's portable, you can easily take it with you . You may carry your portable computer with you from class to class because it's small, light, and fits easily in your backpack. First appearing around 1400, portable stems from the Latin word portare, meaning "to carry." Used as an adjective, portable describes something you can carry around easily. Used as a noun, it means a smaller, easy-to-carry version of something, like a computer or television. On a trip, you might take your portable so you can watch movies in the car. Before computers became popular, you might have carried around a lightweight typewriter called a portable.

Example Sentences

Portable restrooms and hydration stations will be available.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

A follow-up excavation will be led by Cardiff University and the Portable Antiquities Scheme in the coming months.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

Portable mortgages would enable sellers to retain their current loan when purchasing a new home, offering flexibility.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

The most important of these was “The Portable Faulkner,” a perceptively organized anthology of novel excerpts and short stories, for Viking Press in 1946.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

Mr. Ward opened the door of Portable 19.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

Related Words

• compact
• convenient
• handy
• lightweight