penetrable

[ pen-i-truh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being penetrated.

Other Words From

• pene·tra·bili·ty pene·tra·ble·ness noun
• pene·tra·bly adverb
• nonpen·e·tra·bili·ty noun
• non·pene·tra·ble adjective
• non·pene·tra·bly adverb
• self-pene·tra·bili·ty noun
• trans·pene·tra·ble adjective
• un·pene·tra·ble adjective
• un·pene·tra·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of penetrable¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin penetrābilis, equivalent to penetrā ( re ) to penetrate + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

As last weekend’s tightrope walk shows, the site remains penetrable.

From Los Angeles Times

"Since the bacteria are living organisms, over time they developed a resistance, in the form of a less penetrable membrane, to traditional disinfectants," Sánchez explained.

From Science Daily

"The inviolability of the royal harem, penetrable only by the emperor - housing glorious and untouchable women… was meant to be proof of his near divinity," Lal writes.

From BBC

They traveled from state to state—anywhere there was a bank that Leslie deemed penetrable.

From Slate

And then there are steel ceilings, ones that are not penetrable, no matter what skills, education or work ethic a person brings.

From Washington Post