hydrophobic

adjective hy·dro·pho·bic \ ˌhī-drə-ˈfō-bik \

|Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of hydrophobic

1 : of, relating to, or suffering from hydrophobia

2 : lacking affinity for water

—

hydrophobicity

play \ˌhī-drə-fō-ˈbi-sə-tē\ noun

Recent Examples of hydrophobic from the Web

Ironically, light-moderate rain won’t penetrate a deep mulch volcano, and worse, fungal mycelium decomposing the mulch can create hydrophobic mats that repel water.

— ellen nibali, baltimoresun.com, "Garden Q&A: Mulch volcanoes are not what nature intended," 12 Apr. 2018
This PFC-Free eco-friendly treatment is applied in a patented process to create a super hydrophobic finish that never washes or wears off.

— sami emory, Outside Online, "Embrace the Rain," 27 Mar. 2018
Jackets have become surprisingly high-tech, using everything from hydrophobic polyester to next-gen synthetic down—but few jackets weave in actual tech used to fight the elements on other planets.

— tim newcomb, Popular Mechanics, "How NASA Tech Helps This Jacket Battle the Elements," 16 Mar. 2018
Some types of shower doors are available with a hydrophobic coating, a protector that repels water from the glass surface, preventing deposits from clinging to the smooth surface.

— stacy argo, Houston Chronicle, "GHBA Remodelers Council: Care for your glass shower doors, enclosures," 22 Feb. 2018
Kids were told the term for the sand is hydrophobic sand.

— linda gandee/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "The North Ridgeville library proves sandcastles aren't just for the beach anymore," 17 July 2017
My favorite piece was a white table coated in a hydrophobic substance on which Troemel poured a bottle of green Gatorade and a bottle of yellow Gatorade.

— adrian chen, The New Yorker, "Brad Troemel, the Troll of Internet Art," 30 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hydrophobic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hydrophobic

1807

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

hydrophobic

adjective hy·dro·pho·bic \ -ˈfō-bik \

medical Definition of hydrophobic

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

play \-bi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

—

hydrophobicity

play \-ˌfō-ˈbis-ət-ē\ noun, plural -ties

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hydrophobic

Definition of hydrophobic

hydrophobicity

Recent Examples of hydrophobic from the Web

First Known Use of hydrophobic

Medical Dictionary

hydrophobic

medical Definition of hydrophobic

hydrophobically

hydrophobicity

Learn More about hydrophobic

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hydrophobic

Definition of hydrophobic

hydrophobicity

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First Known Use of hydrophobic

Medical Dictionary

hydrophobic

medical Definition of hydrophobic

hydrophobically

hydrophobicity

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