portly

Exam frequency

GRE

high

Banks

low

Civil Services

low

Meaning(s)

fat or rotund

Check Icon How to Memorize

portly - fat

Check Icon Analysis

The word ‘portly’ is essentially a more polite and formal way of describing somebody, particularly a man, who is rather fat. It tends to be used more in relation to corpulent middle-aged or older men as opposed to younger ones, who are more likely to be described as ‘stout’ or ‘chubby’.

ExamsSpokenOther
Synonyms corpulent
Antonyms emaciated

Check Icon Example(s)

  1. My accountant is quite a portly gentleman who clearly spends most of his days sitting behind his desk.

  2. Mike is obsessive about his exercise regime because he is determined not to become a portly middle-aged man.

  3. The portly local mayor cut a cumbersome figure as he delivered a speech at the town event.

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