portable

UK: /ˈpɔː^rtəb^əl/ US: /ˈpɔrtəbəl/ ,(pôr′tə bəl, pōr′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

port•a•ble /ˈpɔrtəbəl/   adj. 

1. that can be transported:
   a portable stage.
2. easily carried by hand:
   a portable radio.
3. Computing (of data, software, etc.) able to be used on different computer systems.
4. capable of being transferred, as pension benefits, from one employer's plan to that of another.

n. [countable]

5. something that can be moved, esp. as distinguished from a similar machine that cannnot:
   Bring along your portable TV.

port•a•bil•i•ty /ˌpɔrtəˈbɪlɪti/  n. [uncountable] See -port-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

port•a•ble  (pôr′tə bəl, pōr′-), adj. 

1. capable of being transported or conveyed:
   a portable stage.
2. easily carried or conveyed by hand:
   a portable typewriter.
3. Computing (of data sets, software, etc.) capable of being used on different computer systems.
4. [Obs.] endurable.

n. 

5. something that is portable, esp. as distinguished from a nonportable counterpart:
   Of their three television sets, one is a portable.

• Late Latin portābilis. See port⁵, -able
• late Middle English 1375–1425

port′a•bly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

portable / ˈpɔːtəb^əl/ adjective

1. able to be carried or moved easily, esp by hand
2. (of software, files, etc) able to be transferred from one type of computer system to another

noun

1. an article designed to be readily carried by hand, such as a television, speakers, etc

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin portābilis, from Latin portāre to carry

ˌportaˈbility noun

ˈportably adverb