port of entry

American  

noun

1. port.

---

port of entry British  

noun

1. law an airport, harbour, etc, where customs officials are stationed to supervise the entry into and exit from a country of persons and merchandise

---

Etymology

Origin of port of entry

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Saleh and three other British nationals appeared in court on Tuesday, where they pleaded not guilty to unlawfully entering the US at a location not designated as a lawful port of entry.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

The family’s attorney, Marc Prokosch, said Liam and his father entered the U.S. at a port of entry in Brownsville, Texas, in 2024 to seek asylum.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The case of F.B., a 27-year-old Colombian woman who entered the U.S. at the San Ysidro port of entry in 2024, further illustrates the government’s approach toward the anti-torture convention.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025

He had applied for asylum the right way — by scheduling an appointment and presenting himself at a port of entry — and yet was languishing behind bars.

From Salon • Jul. 16, 2025

Starting in 1846, the Chicago harbor was designated by an act of the United States Congress as an official port of entry.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield