# porno

/ˈpɔɹnoʊ/ (US) · /pˈɔːnəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/porno
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. pornography in general

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

movies, pictures, or stories that show sexual acts to make people feel excited.

For teachers: sexually explicit media intended for sexual arousal; an informal clipping of 'pornography'.

- He was surprised to find that his roommate spent so much time watching porno.
- The debate over whether porno should be regulated more strictly on the internet continues to divide lawmakers and civil rights advocates.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the genre or medium in general.

### 2. a specific film or magazine

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a single movie or magazine that shows sexual acts.

For teachers: a specific pornographic film, magazine, or publication.

- The shop was caught selling an old porno to a teenager.
- The police seized several boxes of illegal pornos during the raid on the unlicensed warehouse.

Usage: Countable when referring to individual items or units of media.

### 3. pornographic

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

used to describe something that shows sexual acts.

For teachers: relating to or consisting of pornography; used as an informal attributive adjective.

- He accidentally clicked on a porno link while browsing the news.
- The actor later regretted his early appearances in low-budget porno movies before he became famous.

Usage: Usually placed before a noun.

## Examples

- He was caught watching porno on his work computer.
- The local shop stopped selling porno magazines after several residents complained to the owner.
- The debate over whether porno should be regulated more strictly often centers on the balance between individual freedom and the potential for social harm.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.