portly

[ pawrt-lee, pohrt- ]

/ ˈpɔrt li, ˈpoʊrt- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR portly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, port·li·er, port·li·est.

rather heavy or fat; stout; corpulent.

Archaic. stately, dignified, or imposing.

Nearby words

Origin of portly

1520–30; port⁵ (noun) + -ly

Related formsport·li·ness, nounun·port·ly, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for portly

How many Benny Hill scenes involved the creepy, portly man zooming about perilously near an unfathomably stacked woman?
Women, It's Time to Reclaim Our Breasts|Emily Shire|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The portly, balding Sabah, a father of two, glances nervously at the television.
The Tragic Exodus of Iraq’s Christians|Jamie Dettmer|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A moment later I saw my scowling taxi driver darting toward the ticket booth with a companion, a portly man in a checked shirt.
I Got Arrested by the Secret Police|Khalid Ali|September 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
From Alec “The Bloviator” Baldwin to “portly pepperpot” Monica Lewinsky, revisit his chief rogue targets.
Page Six's Biggest Feuds|Jacob Bernstein|October 8, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Mr. Watson was a portly man and weighed about two hundred and twenty pounds, and almost as broad as long.
Life Gleanings|T. J. Macon
The Master of the Mint was accompanied by another gentleman almost as portly as himself, and quite as deliberate in his movements.
Jack Sheppard, Vol. I (of III)|W. Harrison Ainsworth
A curious little keg this, pretty, portly, and altogether unlike other punch-bowls left us from colonial days.
Americana Ebrietatis|Hewson L. Peeke
She was of noble blood, she was portly, she was decidedly middle-aged.
The Arbiter|Lady F. E. E. Bell
February 10 a portly, handsome officer arrived at Chihuahua.
The War With Mexico, Volume I (of 2)|Justin H. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for portly

portly

/ (ˈpɔːtlɪ) /

adjective -lier or -liest

stout or corpulent

archaic stately; impressive

Derived Formsportliness, noun

Word Origin for portly

C16: from port 5 (in the sense: deportment, bearing)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for portly