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portico

American  
[pawr-ti-koh, pohr-] / ˈpɔr tɪˌkoʊ, ˈpoʊr- /

noun

plural

porticoes, porticos
  1. a structure consisting of a roof supported by columns or piers, usually attached to a building as a porch.


portico British  
/ ˈpɔːtɪkəʊ /

noun

  1. a covered entrance to a building; porch

  2. a covered walkway in the form of a roof supported by columns or pillars, esp one built on to the exterior of a building

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of portico

1595–1605; < Italian < Latin porticus porch, portico. See port 4

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A portico with muscular Doric columns doubles as a terrace, as if Von Stuck had built himself a temple rather than a mere home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Paper lanterns were laid across the courtyard, as they had been at a public viewing of Armani's body in Milan earlier this month, with the models walking under the portico.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

Trump finally appeared on the portico of the Blue Room after 7 p.m. on Wednesday to welcome new interns to what the White House described as a “soiree” on the South Lawn.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2025

The administration invited dozens of influencers to the White House for this year’s State of the Union address, where they recorded selfies from the portico as the president’s motorcade came and went from the Capitol.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2024

Parked outside, close to the portico, was a polished black Rolls-Royce.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan