English · Word Candidate

escort

/ˈɛs.kɔɹt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: escorts · escorting · escorted

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A group of people or vehicles, generally armed, who go with a person or people of importance to safeguard them on a journey or mission.

Noun

Examples

The soldier who was pulling at the other end was clumsily unhorsed, and I myself was all but thrown by the unexpected jerk. This ludicrous incident at first provoked mirth among my escort, a mirth which their superstitious minds immediately turned into an ill omen.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

An accompanying person in such a group.

Noun

Examples

The waves being so high when we and the escorts, which stayed about one quarter mile to each side and ahead of us, were in a trough at the same time and we were unable to see one another.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To attend to in order to guard and protect; to accompany as a safeguard (for the person escorted or for others); to give honorable or ceremonious attendance to.

Verb

Examples

He reported that the police escorted the children five or six blocks beyond Natural Bridge Avenue and at that point stopped the white children who were following and shooed them back to the park.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To accompany (a person) in order to compel them to go somewhere (e.g. to leave a building).

Verb

Examples

At this point, the Tenant became extremely angry.... the Tenant started yelling even louder and charged at me. The Tenant was restrained by the security guard and escorted out of the hearing room. The Tenant was ultimately escorted out of the Board’s office because he continued his yelling and aggre

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “escort” mean?

A group of people or vehicles, generally armed, who go with a person or people of importance to safeguard them on a journey or mission.

Is “escort” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.