portico

noun

por·​ti·​co ˈpȯr-ti-ˌkō How to pronounce portico (audio)
plural porticoes or porticos
: a colonnade or covered ambulatory especially in classical architecture and often at the entrance of a building

Illustration of portico

Illustration of portico

Examples of portico in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Built in 1910 by renowned architect Herbert Lucas, the building is an architectural gem with a stately portico, Tuscan columns, and a high cast iron fence. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2025 Several centuries later, workers added a portico and a stage structure, allowing it to be used for theater. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025 This curved portico, four stories high, spans a remarkable 120 feet without a single supporting column. Katharina Kotrba, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 Crickets chirp in the grass beside the driveway, which winds up a bluff, past two towering fir trees and a columned portico, to the side of the building. Blaine Davis, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for portico

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin porticus — more at porch

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of portico was in 1607

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Cite this Entry

“Portico.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portico. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

portico

noun
por·​ti·​co ˈpōrt-i-ˌkō How to pronounce portico (audio)
ˈpȯrt-
plural porticoes or porticos
: a row of columns supporting a roof at the entrance of a building

More from Merriam-Webster on portico

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