# portable

/ˈpɔɹtəbəɫ/ (US) · /pˈɔːtəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/portable
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. easy to carry

adjective · CEFR B1

small and light enough to be carried or moved easily.

For teachers: capable of being carried or moved with ease, typically due to compact design or light weight.

- I bought a portable speaker so we can listen to music at the beach.
- The development of portable medical equipment has revolutionized emergency care in remote areas where permanent clinics are unavailable.

### 2. software compatibility

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describes software that can run on different types of computers or operating systems.

For teachers: referring to software capable of being executed on multiple hardware platforms or operating systems with minimal modification.

- The app is highly portable and works on both Windows and Mac.
- Engineers prioritized writing portable code to ensure the application could be deployed across various server architectures without extensive rewriting.

### 3. transferable benefits

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes something, like a pension or a phone number, that you can take with you when you change companies.

For teachers: capable of being transferred from one employer, system, or organization to another without loss of value or status.

- One benefit of this job is a portable pension that stays with you if you leave.
- The government introduced legislation to make health insurance plans more portable for workers moving between different states.

### 4. a mobile device

noun · CEFR B2

a small computer or electronic device that you can carry with you.

For teachers: a compact, battery-powered electronic device, such as a computer or gaming console, designed for mobile use.

- He spent the whole flight playing games on his portable.
- While desktop sales have declined, the market for high-end portables continues to grow as professionals demand more power on the go.

### 5. temporary building

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a small building that can be moved, often used as an extra classroom at a school.

For teachers: a prefabricated, modular building designed to be transported and used for temporary accommodation or workspace.

- The school had to set up two portables in the car park because there were too many students.
- Due to the sudden increase in enrollment, the district authorized the installation of several portables to serve as temporary science laboratories.

## Examples

- I need a portable charger for my phone.
- The musician prefers a portable keyboard so he can practice while traveling between different cities.
- Advances in battery technology have made high-performance portable workstations a reality for field researchers who previously relied on bulky desktop systems.

---

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.