portable
/ˈpɔː.tə.bəl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Easy to carry or move from one place to another. A portable thing is made so you can use it away from one fixed place.
- I use a portable charger on long trips.
- They bought a portable heater for the room.
- This laptop is small and portable.
Adinary Nuance
Portable is close to movable, lightweight, and transportable, but it is the most natural word for things made for easy carrying. Use movable for things that can be moved, even if they are heavy. Use transportable for formal or technical writing, especially when something is designed to be carried or shipped.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- di động
- Spanish
- portátil
- Chinese
- 便携的
- Japanese
- 持ち運びできる
- Korean
- 휴대용
Etymology
Portable comes from Latin portare, meaning "to carry." It entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
portable chargerportable deviceportable speakerportable toilet
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is portable the same as lightweight?
- Not exactly. Lightweight means not heavy. Portable means easy to carry or move.
- Is portable formal or informal?
- It is neutral. You can use it in everyday speech and in business or academic writing.
- What is the difference between portable and transportable?
- Portable is more common and natural. Transportable is more formal and often used in technical contexts.
- How do I use portable in a sentence?
- You can say, "This is a portable fan" or "We need a portable computer."