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
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
Another of Morgan’s moves should immediately help the porous run D. New safety Tre’von Moehrig, the Las Vegas Raiders’ second-round pick in 2021, notched his first 100-tackle season in 2024 after an injury to another Raiders safety moved him closer to the line of scrimmage.
—
Joseph Person, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
Adopting a mindset that redefines time as porous—fluid, interconnected and shaped by individual rhythms and obligations—can offer a new perspective.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
The new design would function more as a porous wall.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
Laminate isn’t porous, but moisture can still seep into seams and edges, causing peeling or swelling over time, according to Stein.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for porous
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Joseph Person, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
Adopting a mindset that redefines time as porous—fluid, interconnected and shaped by individual rhythms and obligations—can offer a new perspective.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
The new design would function more as a porous wall.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
Laminate isn’t porous, but moisture can still seep into seams and edges, causing peeling or swelling over time, according to Stein.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for porous
Cite this Entry
“Porous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porous. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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