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

Dubbed "Operation Feature", the probe began when members of the Sea Lady and another boat, the Noordzee, were taken in by police at Portsmouth after Augustus Mensah's head injury.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Stuart Smith, 48, was a teacher at Mayville High School in Portsmouth, Hampshire, where he had also been appointed to the roles of assistant head of Year 11 and head of house.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

At the Whitehall service, Reverend Dr Lyndon Drake recited from The Fallen by poet Laurence Binyon before a Royal Marines Portsmouth Road Band trumpeter played the last post after which there was a one-minute silence.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Rachel Moore, 37, from Portsmouth in Hampshire has spent years in debilitating chronic pain due to a womb disease.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

The Poe manuscript had been turned over to the police at Portsmouth Square, and Emily had no idea what to expect from the meeting.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman