porn

IPA/pɔːn/
KK[pˈɔrn]IPA/pɔːrn/

porn — noun

1. videos, pictures, magazines, websites, and similar material whose main purpose i

1.nounB2
Definition

videos, pictures, magazines, websites, and similar material whose main purpose is sexual excitement rather than information or art

Example

The school filter blocked porn on library computers.

collocation: block porn online

Police closed the shop for selling porn near the station.

Common collocations
  • online porn
  • porn site
  • porn ads
  • porn use
Synonyms
  • pornography

    The fuller and more formal word for this meaning.

  • porno

    A slangier variant, often used for films or magazines.

  • smut

    More strongly disapproving and often used for dirty writing or talk.

  • adult material

    A more neutral phrase, often used in warnings or rules.

Grammar Patterns

watch porn

find porn online

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and often slightly disapproving. It commonly appears in discussions of websites, videos, laws, addiction, and online filters.

Common Mistakes

He downloaded many porns.
He downloaded a lot of porn.
In this sense, 'porn' is usually uncountable.
The film has one kissing scene, so it is porn.
The film has one kissing scene, but it is not porn.
'Porn' usually means material mainly made for sexual excitement, not any film that includes sex or romance.

2. pictures, articles, shows, or similar material made to give strong pleasure to p

2.nounC1
Definition

pictures, articles, shows, or similar material made to give strong pleasure to people who are very interested in a subject, product, or style

Example

The magazine's kitchen photos are pure food porn.

pattern: [topic] + porn

Leo's feed is full of train porn from snowy mountain lines.

Common collocations
  • food porn
  • property porn
  • train porn
  • bike porn
Synonyms
  • eye candy

    Stresses visual pleasure more than deep interest in a subject.

  • showcase

    A neutral word for material that displays something attractively.

  • glossy coverage

    Suggests polished media presentation, but not the same humorous exaggeration.

Grammar Patterns

food porn

property porn

car porn

Usage Note

Usually follows another noun naming the subject, as in 'food porn' or 'property porn'. It is informal and often humorous, not a neutral term for ordinary information or reviews.

Common Mistakes

The safety report is car porn.
The glossy photo spread is car porn.
This sense suggests pleasure-focused material for fans, not practical information.

porn — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For the basic meaning, 'porn' is the common informal short form. 'Pornography' is the fuller word and fits formal discussion, law, news, or academic writing better. 'Porno' is even more slangy and is often used for a film, magazine, or website. 'Smut' is strongly disapproving and can also describe dirty language or writing, not only visual material. 'Erotica' overlaps in subject matter, but it often suggests more artistic intention and is not always used as critically as 'porn'. Compare: 'The article examined online pornography laws' sounds formal, while 'He was caught watching porn at work' sounds everyday and direct.

pornography ↗porno ↗smut ↗erotica ↗

Etymology

GreekEnglish

This word is a shortened form of 'pornography'. The longer word came into English from learned use of Greek roots meaning 'prostitute' and 'write'. In modern English, the short form became the usual informal everyday term.