Meaning & use
escorts
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“escorts” is a form of “escort”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
People who travel with someone to protect, guide, or guard them.
Grammar: This is the plural of 'escort'; use it when talking about more than one person. The singular is 'escort'.
Patterns
- escorts for someone
- a group of escorts
- police escorts
The president travels with a team of armed escorts.
The bride and groom arrived in separate cars, each with their own escorts.
The shipment was accompanied by two escorts from the security company.
nounpluraleuphemistic
People paid to accompany someone socially, often implying sexual services.
Grammar: This sense is usually plural because it refers to a service or group; it is often a euphemism.
Patterns
- hire escorts
- escort agency
- call an escort
The hotel has a strict policy against guests bringing in escorts.
He admitted to hiring escorts during his business trips.
The website advertised escorts for lonely travelers.
Word forms
| singular | escort |
|---|---|
| plural | escorts |
Common combinations
- police escort
- The ambulance was given a police escort to the hospital.
- under escort
- The prisoner was taken to court under escort.
- escort agency
- She found work through an escort agency.
- military escort
- A military escort accompanied the convoy.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- escort verb
- To accompany someone somewhere, often for protection or guidance.
Commonly confused: escorts or escort?
escorts vs escort
The singular 'escort' can mean one person; the plural 'escorts' means more than one. Also, 'escort' as a verb is pronounced with stress on the second syllable, but the noun has stress on the first.
Practice
The diplomat was accompanied by a security ______ throughout the visit.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs a singular noun after 'a security', so 'escort' is correct. 'Escorts' is plural and would require 'security escorts' without 'a'. 'Escorted' and 'escorting' are verb forms and do not fit after 'a security'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “escorts”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.