porous

adjective

po·​rous ˈpȯr-əs 

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

Synonyms of porous

• penetrable
• permeable

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 homeowners also patched the roof of their house before rain fell that evening — a crucial step because the fragile meteor is porous and sucks in water from the air, Jenniskens said. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

The installations probe the increasingly porous boundaries between humans, technology, and the natural world, tackling digital identity, real-time data, and the passage of time. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026

It can also be incorporated into a porous silver texture and integrated with rigid devices. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026

The Sparks have alternated winning and losing streaks while coping with injuries to Kelsey Plum and a porous defense. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing porous

• diffuse-porous
• ring-porous

Rhymes for porous

• chloris
• chorus
• horus
• lores
• morrice
• morus
• orris
• porus
• torus
• authorise
• clitoris
• liquorice

Kids 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