What does "escort" mean?

1. (to accompany for protection) to go with someone to make sure they are safe or to show them the way. 2. (to go with socially) to go with someone to a social event, often as their partner. 3. (a protective group or person) a person or a group of people who travel with someone to protect them. 4. (a social companion) someone who goes with you to a social event. 5. (professional companion) a person paid to go to social events with someone, or sometimes a sex worker.

How do you use "escort"?

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object. Often used in formal social contexts.

escort

v. · n.

US //ˈɛskɔɹt// es·cort

1 to accompany for protection (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to go with someone to make sure they are safe or to show them the way.

to accompany a person, vehicle, or group for the purpose of protection, guidance, or security.

Example

Security guards will escort the famous singer to her car after the show.

Example

The naval fleet was ordered to escort the merchant vessels through the high-risk zone to prevent any potential interference from hostile forces.

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
- abandon
2 to go with socially (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to go with someone to a social event, often as their partner.

to accompany someone to a social gathering or formal event, typically as a partner or companion.

Example

He was proud to escort his daughter to the school dance.

Example

The diplomat was invited to escort the visiting dignitary to the gala dinner held at the embassy.

Usage

Often used in formal social contexts.
- accompany
- partner

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3 a protective group or person (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a person or a group of people who travel with someone to protect them.

a person, vehicle, or group of vehicles accompanying another for protection or as a mark of rank.

Example

The president traveled with a police escort to the airport.

Example

The armored convoy moved slowly through the city streets, flanked by a heavy military escort to deter any assassination attempts.
4 a social companion (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

someone who goes with you to a social event.

a person who accompanies another to a social event, often for the sake of appearance or etiquette.

Example

She needed an escort for the wedding, so she asked her brother to go.

Example

In traditional high-society circles, it was once considered improper for a young woman to attend a ball without a suitable escort.
5 professional companion (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a person paid to go to social events with someone, or sometimes a sex worker.

a person whose company is hired for social occasions, or a euphemism for a sex worker who meets clients by appointment.

Example

He hired an escort to accompany him to the corporate dinner so he wouldn't be alone.

Example

The agency specialized in providing professional escorts for high-profile clients who required a sophisticated companion for public appearances.

Teacher's tip

In modern contexts, this word is frequently used as a polite or legal term for a sex worker; learners should be aware of this double meaning.
- call girl
- companion

Origin

Borrowed from French escorte, itself borrowed from Italian scorta.