escort

American  

[es-kawrt, ih-skawrt] / ˈɛs kɔrt, ɪˈskɔrt /

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

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verb (used with object)

escorts, present (3rd person singular) escorted, past participle, past escorting present participle

1. to attend or accompany as an escort.

   Synonyms:

   guide, take, chaperone, squire, usher, conduct

escort British  

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

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verb

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

Synonym Usage

See accompany.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• well-escorted
  adjective
• unescorted
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has escorted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been escorting
  perfect progressive
• have escorted
  perfect
• am escorting
  progressive 1st person singular
• escorting
  participle
• is escorting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been escorting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• escorts
  singular 3rd person
• are escorting
  progressive

Past

• had escorted
  perfect
• had been escorting
  perfect progressive
• was escorting
  progressive singular
• escorted
  simple
• were escorting
  progressive plural
• escorted
  participle

Future

• will escort
  simple
• will have escorted
  perfect
• will be escorting
  progressive
• will have been escorting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of escort

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

Explanation

When you go somewhere, whether it's for fun or business, it's always nice to have an escort — someone to go along with you. Some escorts are there to protect you, some just to share a good time. The word escort can be a noun or a verb — "your escort escorts you." This word is derived from the Latin excorrigere, "to set out," and moved through the Italian scorgere, meaning "to guide." In the 1570s it took on a military tone as escorte, used to describe armed protectors for travelers. In the 19th century it came to mean "accompanying a person on social occasions," although we still refer to military escorts today.

Example Sentences

By plans laid ahead of time, most caravan vehicles detoured around the party while select caravan cars followed a police escort through the action.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

Some quote higher rates if ships have a naval escort, for example, on the assumption it makes the vessel more of a target, said David Smith, head of marine at broker McGill & Partners.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Others quote lower premiums if there is an escort, because of the perceived greater protection against attacks, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

The royal procession travels from Buckingham Palace to the Sovereign's Entrance at Parliament, with a military escort.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

They stayed with us for about ten miles and then another escort took over.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Related Words

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