portly
Americanadjective
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rather heavy or fat; stout; corpulent.
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Archaic. stately, dignified, or imposing.
adjective
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stout or corpulent
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archaic stately; impressive
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of portly
Explanation
If your uncle has a rounder body shape, he might call himself a portly gentleman. Synonyms of portly include stout and heavy. Some opera singers are portly, but all that girth makes it easier for them to produce a robust sound. Although portly is similar to chubby, it’s a little more dignified. In fact, the word was formerly used to mean “dignified,” and it still keeps a dose of dignity. Alfred Hitchcock and Winston Churchill were portly.
Vocabulary lists containing portly
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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A Christmas Carol
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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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.
See Examples For:
To the dismay of more portly ministers in tow, he also made a habit of jogging onto stage at public events.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 22, 2025
"Cyril", as he is known to some, is said to be a portly man with a very gruff voice.
From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2024
They think of the mythic Valenzuela of 1981, the shy, portly pitcher with the unorthodox delivery who conquered all by giving his all.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2024
As I grew up, a frequent refrain from friends and family members—in particular my zaftig aunts and portly uncles—was to opine about how they wished they were slim like me.
From Slate ● Oct. 4, 2023
Bobby’s aide or so-called second at the tournament was his close friend and fellow Jack Collins student William Lombardy, a portly twenty-year-old seminarian who was studying to become a Roman Catholic priest.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Mr. Gong’s Abby, older and portlier, is a terrier-beagle.
From New York Times ● Apr. 22, 2023
"Most excitingly, our treasured, mischievous Peter Rabbit makes an appearance – albeit older, slower and portlier."
From Reuters ● Jan. 26, 2016
As the luckless Vinnie, Mr. Van Swearingen, considerably shorter and portlier than Mr. Shannon, sports the saddest-looking combover I’ve ever seen — it’s really a half-combover.
From New York Times ● Aug. 9, 2013
“She’s talking to my twin,” he said, apparently not offended that Mr. Asner is portlier than the real thing.
From New York Times ● May 19, 2011
"I'll tell you when I come back—wait till I bring you the portlier, first."
From The Black Baronet; or, The Chronicles Of Ballytrain The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by Carleton, William
Besides his quiet banking vocation, he was, I think, the portliest of the family, which may be the explanation.
From Personal Recollections of Early Melbourne and Victoria by Westgarth, William
“Very pretty!” murmured the ladies, and the portliest of them went a step further and added: “And cheap!” but no one showed the faintest disposition to buy.
From The Love Affairs of Pixie by Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.
"Nay, fair one, you pass not our bounds without toll," said the portliest of the set.
From The Prince and the Page; a story of the last crusade by Yonge, Charlotte Mary
He grew to be very thin before he died, thinner than Benjamin Dobbs, who is now portliest among the portly.
From Hans Brinker; or, the Silver Skates by Dodge, Mary Mapes
Of course they must!—the case was as plain as the portliest of noses on the most rubicund of faces.
From Homes of American Statesmen With Anecdotical, Personal, and Descriptive Sketches by Various
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.
