escort

[es-kawrt, ih-skawrt]

noun

1. a group of persons, or a single person, accompanying another or others for protection, guidance, or courtesy.

   An escort of sailors accompanied the queen.

2. an armed guard, as a body of soldiers or ships.

   The president traveled with a large escort of motorcycle police.

3. a man or boy who accompanies a woman or girl in public, as to a social event.

4. a person, especially a woman female escort, but sometimes a man male escort, who is paid to go on a date with a client, and usually to engage in sex acts for money.

5. protection, safeguard, or guidance on a journey.

   to travel without escort.

   Synonyms: convoy

verb (used with object)

1. to attend or accompany as an escort.

   Synonyms: guide, take, chaperone, squire, usher, conduct

escort

noun

1. one or more persons, soldiers, vehicles, etc, accompanying another or others for protection, guidance, restraint, or as a mark of honour

2. a man or youth who accompanies a woman or girl

   he was her escort for the evening

3. 1. a person, esp a young woman, who may be hired to accompany another for entertainment, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      an escort agency

verb

1. (tr) to accompany or attend as an escort

Other Word Forms

• unescorted adjective
• well-escorted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of escort¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from French, from Italian scorta, derivative of scorgere “to conduct, guide,” from Vulgar Latin excorrigere (unrecorded); ex- ¹, correct

Word History and Origins

Origin of escort¹

C16: from French escorte, from Italian scorta, from scorgere to guide, from Latin corrigere to straighten; see _correct

Synonym Study

See accompany.

Example Sentences

Co-star Cynthia Erivo promptly wrested the stunned actress away from Mr Wen, who was seen being escorted out of the event by security officers.

Read more on BBC

A police motorcyclist who crashed into a pensioner while escorting the Duchess of Edinburgh through London has been found not guilty of causing death by careless driving.

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A rowdy group insulted foreign guests at the museum ahead of the opening - forcing them to be hurried away under police escort.

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PC Harrison was among the team of convoy motorcycle outriders that was escorting Sophie as she left the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office in King Charles Street just after 15:00 BST.

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Instead, E said, Quin called for an escort to take him back to his dorm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accompany 
• bring 
• carry 
• drag 
• guide 
• protect 
• steer 
• usher