permeable

adjective

per·​me·​able ˈpər-mē-ə-bəl 

: capable of being permeated : penetrable

especially : having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through

a permeable membrane

permeable limestone

Did you know?

“Our landscapes are changing … they’re becoming less permeable to wildlife at the precise moment animals need to move most,” writes Ben Goldfarb in his book Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet. He’s describing the effects of highway infrastructure and at the same time clearly demonstrating the meaning of permeable, a word that traces back to a combination of the prefix per-, meaning “through,” and the Latin verb meare, meaning “to go” or “to pass.” Accordingly, a permeable landscape—such as one where humans have constructed wildlife overpasses—is one that allows animals to pass and spread through unimpeded. Permeable’s relative, the verb permeate (“to spread or diffuse through”) is another commonly used meare descendent, but other relations haven’t managed to permeate the language quite so widely, such as meatus (“a natural body passage”), congé (“a formal permission to depart”), and irremeable (“offering no possibility of return”).

Synonyms

• passable
• penetrable
• pervious
• porous

Examples of permeable in a Sentence

The cell has a permeable membrane.

a permeable fabric that allows your body heat to escape will be much more comfortable in the summertime

Recent Examples on the Web

Neurotransmitters become unbalanced, and the blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable. —Janelle McSwiggin, Msn, Health, 25 Sep. 2024

However, the gut can become more permeable, leading to a risk of symptoms inside and outside of the digestive tract. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2024

The uncertainty surrounding the origin of such thoughts gives the novel a jangly quality, disorienting at first but also a simulacrum of Brooke’s too permeable mind. —Laura Miller, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024

When installed correctly, the pavers are permeable, which allows rainwater to pass through to the earth beneath and replenish natural aquifers. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

permeable

adjective

per·​me·​able ˈpər-mē-ə-bəl 

: having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through

a permeable membrane

permeable limestone

Medical Definition

permeable

adjective

per·​me·​able ˈpər-mē-ə-bəl 

: capable of being permeated

especially : having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through

a permeable membrane