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.

---

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)

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Portsmouth

Police have released images of six men they want to speak to in connection with an anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Around 500 anti-migrant protesters took to the streets of Portsmouth on Saturday and were met by hundreds of counter-protesters from Stand up to Racism.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

As a result, Border Force and the coastguard opted to bring the group ashore at Eastney Landing in Portsmouth, with lifeboats from Bembridge and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight assisting in the operation.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Hampshire Police, which has responsibility for Portsmouth, said the mask ban was to "reduce opportunities for violence, intimidation and criminality".

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

Even before the British got into their transports, word had come back to Boston that the King’s fort at Portsmouth had been seized and His Majesty’s military stores stolen by the rebellious Americans.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes