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

See Examples For:

Portsmouth

Pointing the fan directly at your face may be tempting during periods of extreme heat, says Prof Mike Tipton from the University of Portsmouth.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Among the areas that will miss out are Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, Oxford and Portsmouth.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

The former Liverpool, Portsmouth and Watford player was in Peterborough to promote two organisations which try to make football kit more affordable.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

Forced to retire at the age of 28, following persistent knee injuries, he began a long coaching career which included spells in charge at Watford, Swansea City, Millwall, Wolves, Rotherham, Portsmouth and Leyton Orient.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

Right away I drove to Portsmouth and met my mother’s childhood friend, a slim, brown-haired, soft-spoken woman of Mommy’s age whose eyes, it turned out, were working just fine.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride