hydrophobic

adjective

hy·​dro·​pho·​bic ˌhī-drə-ˈfō-bik 

1

: of, relating to, or suffering from hydrophobia

2

: lacking affinity for water

hydrophobicity

ˌhī-drə-fō-ˈbi-sə-tē 

noun

Examples of hydrophobic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, a team of researchers from Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School and collaborating institutions across China have developed a new platform for simultaneously delivering hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs directly into skin. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 2 Feb. 2026

If the water sits on the surface after one minute, the soil is hydrophobic. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025

Like the beetle's wings, the mesh filaments are chemically coated to be either hydrophobic or hydrophilic. —Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 June 2025

Dust and dead skin cells are hydrophilic; naturally occurring oils are hydrophobic; and environmental debris can be either. —Paul E. Richardson, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hydrophobic

• anaerobic
• claustrophobic
• homophobic
• aerobic
• phobic

Medical Definition

hydrophobic

adjective

hy·​dro·​pho·​bic -ˈfō-bik 

1

: of, relating to, or suffering from hydrophobia

2

: resistant to or avoiding wetting

a hydrophobic lens

3

: of, relating to, or having a lack of affinity for water

hydrophobic colloids are relatively unstable

compare lyophobic, oleophobic

hydrophobically

-bi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

hydrophobicity

-ˌfō-ˈbis-ət-ē 

noun

plural hydrophobicities