home port
Americannoun
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the port where a ship is registered.
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the port out of which a ship is operated but not necessarily registered.
Etymology
Origin of home port
First recorded in 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The submarine went missing a week after it set off from Ushuaia on Argentina's southern tip and was returning to its home port at the Mar del Plata naval base.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026
The Truxtun left its home port of Norfolk, Va., on Feb. 6 to begin its scheduled deployment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
In 1919, Long Beach became the home port for the nation’s Pacific fleet of battleships, and in time, more ships followed.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2025
HMS Trent left its home port of Gibraltar in early December and is currently alongside in Bridgetown, Barbados for Christmas.
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2023
“When a man’s on shipboard, it’s Aye, aye, sir and you obey on the double. But at least when I’m in home port I’m my own boss!”
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
