pork

noun

ˈpȯrk How to pronounce pork (audio)
1
: the fresh or salted flesh of swine when dressed for food
2
: government funds, jobs, or favors distributed by politicians to gain political advantage

Examples of pork in a Sentence

We need to cut the pork out of the federal budget.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Food and drink After a week of Portuguese fish, pork, sausages, and potatoes, I was thrilled to discover that Octant Praia Verde offered lighter salads, healthy juices, and vegetarian dishes in addition to traditional Portuguese fare. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026 Earmarks, also commonly known as pork-barrel spending, allow lawmakers to advance pet projects in their districts with little oversight. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 Raw chicken was stored over raw pork inside the walk-in cooler. — Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 For example, lean meat like turkey might benefit from the richness of cream, whereas a fattier meat like pork might be better off with milk (or water, or stock). — Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pork

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French porc pig, from Latin porcus — more at farrow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pork was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing pork

Rhymes for pork

See All Rhymes for pork

Browse Nearby Words

poritoid
pork
pork barrel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pork. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pork

noun
ˈpō(ə)rk How to pronounce pork (audio)
ˈpȯ(ə)rk
1
: the flesh of a pig used for food
2
: government funds, jobs, or favors distributed by politicians to gain political advantage
Etymology

Middle English pork "meat from a pig," from early French porc "pig," from Latin porcus "pig" — related to porcupine, porpoise see Word History at porpoise

More from Merriam-Webster on pork

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pork

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