penetration

[ pen-i-trey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or power of penetrating. penetrating.
2. mental acuteness, discernment, or insight:

   a scholar of rare penetration.

   Synonyms: profundity, depth, discrimination, perception, understanding

3. the obtaining of a share of a market for some commodity or service.
4. the extension, usually peaceful, of the influence of one nation or culture into the affairs of another.
5. a military attack that penetrates into enemy territory.
6. Gunnery. the depth to which a projectile goes into the target.
7. the measure of relative depth of field of a telescope or microscope, especially a binocular microscope.

penetration

/ ˌpɛnɪˈtreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of penetrating
2. the ability or power to penetrate
3. keen insight or perception
4. military an offensive manoeuvre that breaks through an enemy's defensive position
5. Also calledmarket penetration the proportion of the total number of potential purchasers of a product or service who either are aware of its existence or actually buy it
6. another name for depth of field

Other Words From

• nonpen·e·tration noun
• prepen·e·tration noun
• self-pene·tration noun
• transpen·e·tration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penetration¹

First recorded in 1595–1605, penetration is from the Late Latin word penetrātiōn- (stem of penetrātiō ). See penetrate, -ion

Example Sentences

Guiver admitted sexual assault by penetration, assault, intentional strangulation, trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and threats to kill.

From BBC

This was despite the fact she sentenced Leila’s abuser to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to assault by penetration and multiple charges of sexual assault.

From BBC

Giving tailwind to this is the growing penetration of smartphones among middle-income rural families.

From BBC

The franchise has included iterations set in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Hawaii and Sydney, each applying local color and flavor to a tried-and-true formula; some have come and gone, some have not been around long enough to go, but none is likely to display the staying power or global penetration of the original, about to embark Monday on its 22nd season.

From Los Angeles Times

The full charges include four counts of sexual penetration without consent, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of impeding a person's normal breathing or circulation by applying pressure on or to their neck.

From BBC

Related Words

• infiltration
• seepage