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
Being a fan of a cultural artifact means being a passionate reader (in a broader sense that also includes viewer, listener, audience, co-creator, and that also loosens and points out the porous border between work, creator, recipient).
—
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Avoid terra-cotta pots for moisture-loving plants like ferns, Venus flytraps, and peace lilies since the porous clay dries out the soil quickly.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Because the graphene aerogel is thin and porous, there is substantial space for chemical reactions.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Perlite is a lightweight, porous volcanic glass used to improve aeration and drainage in soil and other plant mixes.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for porous
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Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Avoid terra-cotta pots for moisture-loving plants like ferns, Venus flytraps, and peace lilies since the porous clay dries out the soil quickly.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Because the graphene aerogel is thin and porous, there is substantial space for chemical reactions.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Perlite is a lightweight, porous volcanic glass used to improve aeration and drainage in soil and other plant mixes.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for porous
Cite this Entry
“Porous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porous. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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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