Portsmouth

American  

[pawrts-muhth, pohrts-] / ˈpɔrts məθ, ˈpoʊrts- /

noun

1. a seaport in S Hampshire, in S England, on the English Channel: chief British naval station.

2. a seaport in SE Virginia: navy yard.

3. a seaport in SE New Hampshire: naval base; Russian-Japanese peace treaty 1905.

4. a city in S Ohio, on the Ohio River.

5. a town in SE Rhode Island.

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Portsmouth British  

/ ˈpɔːtsməθ /

noun

1. Informal name: Pompey.  a port in S England, in Portsmouth unitary authority, Hampshire, on the English Channel: Britain's chief naval base; university (1992). Pop: 187 056 (2001)

2. a unitary authority in S England, in Hampshire. Pop: 188 700 (2003 est). Area: 37 sq km (14 sq miles)

3. a port in SE Virginia, on the Elizabeth River: naval base; shipyards. Pop: 99 617 (2003 est)

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Example Sentences

He purchased Portsmouth, then in the second-tier Championship, in June 2011.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

A French court has ruled to extradite Russian banker Vladimir Antonov, a former owner of English football club Portsmouth, to Lithuania, his lawyer said on Friday.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The crew of HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth have been told they must be ready to leave in five days.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026

He also noted that Pesarik’s credit-card bills went to a post-office box in Portsmouth, N.H., during much of this period.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

At a modest high school in the Tidewater city of Portsmouth, not far from John Casteen’s boyhood home, a guidance-office wall filled with college pennants does not include one from rarefied Virginia.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times