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:
But instead of portly people enjoying futuristic entertainment, we will all be skinnier thanks to today’s GLP-1 medications.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
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
For a long time, Kundan Lal Gujral - whom the newspaper described as "a portly, florid" man with a "splendid moustache" - was credited for the booming success.
From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2024
A portly, middle-aged man with glasses and a remarkably persistent German accent became something of a celebrity, going out of the town with such Hollywood stars as Marlo Thomas, Candice Bergen and Jill St. John.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 29, 2023
He stood on the steep bank above the water turbines, contentedly puffing on a cigar, looking over his portly belly at the river below.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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
A taxi' stand was two blocks away on the Avenue, and as Willa stepped into the first cab, a taller, portlier figure entered the second, and followed slowly but persistently through the maze of traffic.
From The Fifth Ace by George W. Gage
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 William Westgarth
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
“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 Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
Faix, my modher, no longer ago than Friday night last, argued down Bartle Meegan's throath, that you and Biddy Martin wor the two portliest weemen that comes into the chapel.
From Phil Purcel, The Pig-Driver; The Geography Of An Irish Oath; The Lianhan Shee Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three by William Carleton
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 Mary Mapes Dodge
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
