permeability

noun

per·​me·​abil·​i·​ty ˌpər-mē-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce permeability (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being permeable
2
: the property of a magnetizable substance that determines the degree in which it modifies the magnetic flux in the region occupied by it in a magnetic field

Examples of permeability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By regulating the acidity of the skin, these microbes help to maintain a powerful permeability barrier that prevents water and electrolyte loss from the body—a requirement for life in terrestrial animals like us. Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 Last week, for example, Groundwork staff and our UC San Diego field instructors worked on a lesson for students to experience, firsthand, how important the permeability of the ground is for their neighborhoods. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Oct. 2023 Using electrical stimulation to generate electro-passageways through the skin, the K-beauty device increases skin’s permeability by around 490 percent. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2023 There is a knowing permeability at play here, though. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2023 That said, geological limitations—such as the right amounts of heat, water, and underground permeability—have largely restricted harvesting to shallow hydrothermal sources in areas such as Nevada’s Great Basin region. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 July 2023 Probiotics may enhance the integrity of the intestinal barrier, reducing permeability and preventing the passage of harmful substances into the bloodstream. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2023 Its proteins show promise in potentially increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to allow medication to be delivered directly to the brain — a holy grail of modern medicine. Simeon Tegel, Washington Post, 23 June 2023 Their permeability is crucial to the function of organs such as the kidney and liver. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 20 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'permeability.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of permeability was in 1759

Dictionary Entries Near permeability

Cite this Entry

“Permeability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permeability. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

permeability

noun
per·​me·​abil·​i·​ty ˌpər-mē-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce permeability (audio)
: the quality or state of being permeable

Medical Definition

permeability

noun
per·​me·​abil·​i·​ty ˌpər-mē-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce permeability (audio)
plural permeabilities
: the quality or state of being permeable

More from Merriam-Webster on permeability

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