portal

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "portal" is a correct and usable word in written English.
Generally speaking, you can use it to refer to a doorway or gateway, especially one that appears in myths or fantasy works. For example: The old sage opened a portal to the mysterious realm beyond.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At 35 ("Too old to be doing showbiz nonsense") he ghost-wrote Martine McCutcheon's autobiography and helped set up teen portal MyKindaPlace.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Straightforward, genuine, usable content is preferable – he encourages companies to set up a separate jobs portal for recruitment, for example – but even so, the change tends to be glacial.

The Guardian - Tech

Edwards also announced that by April 2016 the two organisations will launch a joint online portal.

The Guardian

What's wrong with that?" The regime has been paying even less attention to keeping up the facade of a democratic process, according to Daniil Kislov, editor of the central Asian news portal Fergana.ru, which has been banned in Uzbekistan.

The Guardian

No special qualifications are needed for the jobs whose main role is "executing a judgment of death" but also involve performing amputations on those convicted of lesser offences, the advert, posted on the civil service jobs portal, said.

The Guardian

"Tsipras got into power on the votes of the old centre left and that is where he has to move," says Christos Memis, a veteran political commentator now in charge of the respected news portal Protagon.gr.

The Guardian

Cosco's presence has fast turned Greece into a portal through which Chinese products are daily passed into the European Union – a strategic plan that Beijing intends to take further with the expansion of processing rights enabling it to ship goods under EU label.

The Guardian

This was made worse when the commission website's was transferred to the Gov.uk portal (Shawcross recently told MPs that the commission didn't want to make the move, and that the website was no longer designed for charities), but the commission is taking steps to put this right.

The Guardian

Wellnote by Dr Darzi, billed as the first smartphone health portal of its kind, will allow users to keep track of their appointments and medication - and also rate the healthcare services they use.

The Guardian

Classrooms were closed at St Cloud Cathedral, a seventh- through 12th-grade private school in Minnesota, but students had to log into the school's online portal to complete classwork from home.

The Guardian

At first glimpse, it is a snazzy web portal where four of Utah's five largest health insurance companies offer about 140 plans to about 6,600 employees of 285 small businesses.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "portal" when describing a means of entry into another world, dimension, or state of being in fictional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "portal" as a generic synonym for "website". "Portal" implies a specific function of providing access to a range of information or services, rather than just being a web page. Use "website" for a generic reference to any site.

Linguistic Context

The word "portal" functions primarily as a noun, denoting an entrance, gateway, or access point. As indicated by Ludwig, it is a usable word in written English, commonly used to describe a doorway or gateway, especially in myth or fantasy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "portal" is a versatile noun primarily used to describe a means of entry, access, or a gateway, as confirmed by Ludwig. It commonly appears in contexts related to News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While grammatically correct, it's important to use "portal" accurately, distinguishing it from a general "website" and recognizing its connotation of a curated and organized access point. Considering related terms like "gateway" or "access point" can provide alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gateway

Replaces "portal" with a more general term for an entrance or access point.

entrance

Focuses on the aspect of entering or accessing something, similar to "portal".

access point

Highlights the function of providing access, a key aspect of a "portal".

entry point

Emphasizes the beginning or starting point of access.

web gateway

Specifies the digital or online context of the "portal".

online platform

Highlights the interactive and multi-faceted nature of a "portal" in a digital setting.

online hub

Similar to "portal", suggesting a central point for information and services.

digital doorway

Evokes the imagery of a physical doorway but in a digital context.

access channel

Focuses on "portal" as the mechanism for achieving entry or connection.

entry route

Replaces with the concept of "portal" indicating a route to enter.

FAQs

How can I use "portal" in a sentence?

You can use "portal" to describe a website that offers access to various resources, such as "The company launched a new customer service portal". It can also refer to a gateway to another world, as in "The magician opened a portal to another dimension".

What's the difference between a "portal" and a "website"?

While a "website" can be any collection of webpages under a single domain, a "portal" typically offers a curated and organized collection of links, tools, and services, often personalized for the user.

What can I say instead of "portal"?

Depending on the context, you could use "gateway", "entrance", "access point", or "online platform".

Is "portal" only used for websites?

No, "portal" can refer to physical entrances or gateways, especially grandiose ones. In fantasy and science fiction, it often refers to a magical or technological doorway to another place or dimension.