1
a
: possessing or full of pores
b
: containing vessels
hardwood is porous
2
a
: permeable to fluids
b
: permeable to outside influences
3
: capable of being penetrated
porous national boundaries
porously
adverb
porousness
noun
Examples of porous in a Sentence
The country has a porous border.
a cleaner that should not be used on porous surfaces
Recent Examples on the Web
The foam ceramics’ porous, network-like structure provides extensive surface area for catalysts and adsorbents.
—
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Burrow’s replacement, Jake Browning, struggled yet again as the starter, throwing for just 125 yards and being harassed by Denver defenders all night because of a porous offensive line.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
The result was a powerful presentation that showcased craft traditions such as quilting and ceramics alongside explorations of spirituality and migration, underscoring the ways southern identity has always been porous and connected to broader global histories.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 29 Sep. 2025
Not all of that is his fault, however, as Tennessee's offensive line is porous, which has led to him being pressured on a high number of his dropbacks.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for porous
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Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
Burrow’s replacement, Jake Browning, struggled yet again as the starter, throwing for just 125 yards and being harassed by Denver defenders all night because of a porous offensive line.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
The result was a powerful presentation that showcased craft traditions such as quilting and ceramics alongside explorations of spirituality and migration, underscoring the ways southern identity has always been porous and connected to broader global histories.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 29 Sep. 2025
Not all of that is his fault, however, as Tennessee's offensive line is porous, which has led to him being pressured on a high number of his dropbacks.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for porous
Cite this Entry
“Porous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porous. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
porous
adjective
po·rous
ˈpōr-əs 
ˈpȯr-
1
: full of pores
2
: capable of absorbing liquids
Medical Definition
porous
adjective
po·rous
ˈpōr-əs, ˈpȯr-
1
: possessing or full of pores
porous bones
2
: permeable to fluids
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