penetration

noun

pen·​e·​tra·​tion ˌpe-nə-ˈtrā-shən 

1

a

: the power to penetrate

especially : the ability to discern deeply and acutely

b

: the depth to which something penetrates

c

: the extent to which a commercial product or agency is familiar or sells in a market

2

: the act or process of penetrating: such as

a

: the act of entering a country so that actual establishment of influence is accomplished

b

: an attack that penetrates the enemy's front or territory

Choose the Right Synonym for penetration

discernment, discrimination, perception, penetration, insight, acumen mean a power to see what is not evident to the average mind.

discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art).

the discernment to know true friends

discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent.

the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music

perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling).

a novelist of keen perception into human motives

penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial.

lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles

insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy.

a documentary providing insight into the plight of people affected by the housing crisis

acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment.

a director of reliable box-office acumen

Examples of penetration in a Sentence

Cuts in the skin could permit the penetration of bacteria into the body.

the penetration of the CIA by foreign agents

the penetration of the U.S. market by a foreign company

multiple penetrations into enemy territory

a writer who analyzes the underlying causes of the recession with great penetration

Recent Examples on the Web

Cyber resilience must be a priority, encompassing: ● Multilayered security infrastructure; ● Advanced firewalls and intrusion prevention systems; ● End-to-end encryption; ● Regular audits and penetration testing; and ● Ongoing training for all stakeholders on secure digital practices. —Paul Westall, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

His dribble-drive penetration creates an advantage and causes Paul Reed, who is guarding Towns, to sprint into the paint to try and negate the layup. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025

Turn back to the 2010s, when the brand started amassing what is now an arsenal of awards, and note the lockstep rise in market share and penetration. —Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025

Robust security measures, including adversarial and penetration testing and AI-specific threat detection, are essential to safeguard financial assets. —Tomer Guriel, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for penetration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

penetration

noun

pen·​e·​tra·​tion ˌpen-ə-ˈtrā-shən 

1

: the act or process of penetrating

2

a

: the depth to which something penetrates

b

: keen understanding

Medical Definition

penetration

noun

pen·​e·​tra·​tion ˌpen-ə-ˈtrā-shən 

1

: the depth to which something penetrates

2

: the act or process of penetrating