portly

[ pawrt-lee, pohrt- ]

adjective

, port·li·er, port·li·est.

1. rather heavy or fat; stout; corpulent.
2. Archaic. stately, dignified, or imposing.

portly

/ ˈpɔːtlɪ /

adjective

1. stout or corpulent
2. archaic.
   stately; impressive

Derived Forms

• ˈportliness, noun

Other Words From

• portli·ness noun
• un·portly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of portly¹

1520–30; port ⁵ (noun) + -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of portly¹

C16: from port ⁵(in the sense: deportment, bearing)

Example Sentences

A portly gentleman celebrating the University of Missouri’s homecoming victory that weekend informed me “Everybody in America wants Trump. He’s good for the economy, hates immigrants and won’t let people like me get replaced.”

From Salon

They think of the mythic Valenzuela of 1981, the shy, portly pitcher with the unorthodox delivery who conquered all by giving his all.

From Los Angeles Times

By this point, the buzz and attention surrounding the portly left-hander had reached a fever pitch, and the impact was as wide as it was sudden.

From Los Angeles Times

He was as portly as a tax collector.

From Literature

A portly, middle-aged man with glasses and a remarkably persistent German accent became something of a celebrity, going out of the town with such Hollywood stars as Marlo Thomas, Candice Bergen and Jill St. John.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beefy
• burly
• corpulent
• overweight
• stout