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

Directing water to the right places to replenish these deeper spaces requires detailed information about the valley’s geologic features, including natural pathways where water can quickly travel through permeable sand, gravel and cobbles to reach aquifers. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024

As the infection advances, the fly’s blood-brain barrier becomes permeable, allowing the fungus to manipulate neural circuits with even greater precision. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024

The cultural boundary between dance and fashion is a permeable one: From Lanvin’s promotional video with French choreographer Benjamin Millepied earlier this year, to the way a movement director choreographed models in Maison Margiela’s Artisanal runway in January, among many other examples. —Cathrin Schaer, WWD, 31 Oct. 2024

An urban orchard boasting 80 varieties of fruit trees, a 15,000-square-foot permeable parking lot with a recycled rainwater system, and a solar flower to help provide electricity for the community gardens and farmers market were all completed in 2015. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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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