impermeable

adjective

im·​per·​me·​able (ˌ)im-ˈpər-mē-ə-bəl How to pronounce impermeable (audio)
Synonyms of impermeablenext
: not permitting passage (as of a fluid) through its substance
broadly : impervious

Examples of impermeable in a Sentence

an impermeable layer of rock a fabric impermeable to moisture
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My father’s 1930s interviews tell stories of couples who defied Chicago’s seemingly impermeable color line. Dorothy Roberts, Time, 13 Feb. 2026 Driveway materials can be impermeable or permeable—so traditional concrete and asphalt, or a pervious solution that allows rainwater to pass through. Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026 The impermeable seed coat strategy generally helps survival of the species by making sure all of a season’s crop don’t germinate in the same year. Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Nov. 2025 The discovery could enable large-scale use of impermeable coatings once limited by graphene’s scalability issues. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impermeable

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin impermeabilis, from Latin in- + Late Latin permeabilis permeable

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impermeable was in 1661

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impermeable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impermeable. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

impermeable

adjective
im·​per·​me·​able (ˈ)im-ˈpər-mē-ə-bəl How to pronounce impermeable (audio)
: not permitting passage (as of a fluid) through the material of which it is made

Medical Definition

impermeable

adjective
im·​per·​me·​able (ˈ)im-ˈpər-mē-ə-bəl How to pronounce impermeable (audio)
: not permitting passage (as of a fluid) through its substance
the plasma membrane of a red blood cell is relatively impermeable to sodium and calcium ions
impermeability noun
plural impermeabilities

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