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

It recently announced its first product, a portable water-filtration device designed for use by everyone from emergency-response organizers to people looking to get off the grid, with deliveries scheduled for late this year.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

Airlines’ rules vary, leaving passengers to navigate different restrictions on their portable chargers from one airline to the next.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Haley Andringa, who flies cross-country on American twice a month for her makeup artistry business, travels with up to three portable chargers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Rogan, the exhibition amasses a remarkable range of portable abstract objects.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

The Occupy Mobius encampment is bright with car headlights and portable outdoor work lights operated by generators.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

Related Words

• compact
• convenient
• handy
• lightweight