portmanteau Definition
a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example motel (from 'motor' and 'hotel').
Using portmanteau: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "portmanteau" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Brunch is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch.
Example
Smog is a portmanteau of smoke and fog.
Example
Spork is a portmanteau of spoon and fork.
portmanteau Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for portmanteau
- blend
- amalgamation
- combination
- compound word
Phrases with portmanteau
a verbal error in which a speaker accidentally transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words, often to humorous effect
Example
Saying 'you have hissed all my mystery lectures and were caught fighting a liar in the quad' instead of 'you have missed all my history lectures and were caught lighting a fire in the quad' is an example of a spoonerism.
portmanteau word
a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example motel (from 'motor' and 'hotel')
Example
The word 'smog' is a portmanteau word created by blending the words 'smoke' and 'fog'.
a newly coined word or expression
Example
The word 'staycation' is a neologism that combines 'stay' and 'vacation'.
Origins of portmanteau
from French 'porter' meaning 'to carry' and 'manteau' meaning 'coat'
Summary: portmanteau in Brief
A 'portmanteau' [pɔːtˈmantəʊ] is a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others. It is a type of compound word, such as 'brunch' (breakfast + lunch) and 'smog' (smoke + fog). 'Portmanteau' is derived from French words meaning 'to carry' and 'coat'.
