porcelain
noun
por·ce·lain
ˈpȯr-s(ə-)lən 
1
: a hard, fine-grained, sonorous, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and a feldspathic rock and is fired at a high temperature
called also hard-paste porcelain, true porcelain
Examples of porcelain in a Sentence
The bowl is made of porcelain.
Recent Examples on the Web
How To Clean Uncoated Cast-Iron Grates Most modern homes have enamel- or porcelain-covered cast-iron or steel stove grates.
—
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
That random coffee shop that had the most exquisite collection of Arita porcelain and stacks of explicit manga.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Somewhere between Venice and Paris, just as afternoon tea was served—raspberry tartlets and biscotti squisiti, coffee poured from silver ewers into porcelain cups—JR, the French artist known for his public installations, was starting to freak out.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Ceramic and porcelain tiles have a higher-end look, but come with a higher price tag and will most likely require a professional to install.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for porcelain
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.
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
That random coffee shop that had the most exquisite collection of Arita porcelain and stacks of explicit manga.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Somewhere between Venice and Paris, just as afternoon tea was served—raspberry tartlets and biscotti squisiti, coffee poured from silver ewers into porcelain cups—JR, the French artist known for his public installations, was starting to freak out.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Ceramic and porcelain tiles have a higher-end look, but come with a higher price tag and will most likely require a professional to install.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for porcelain
Cite this Entry
“Porcelain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porcelain. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
porcelain
noun
por·ce·lain
ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən
ˈpȯr-
: a hard white ceramic ware used especially for dishes and chemical utensils
Medical Definition
porcelain
noun
por·ce·lain
ˈpōr-s(ə-)lən, ˈpȯr-
: a hard, fine-grained, nonporous, and usually translucent and white ceramic ware that consists essentially of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar and that has many uses in dentistry
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
