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
Bath bombs release dyes and oils that cling to porous or textured tub surfaces, making stains harder to remove.
—
Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026
The harms of porous insurance oversight have also surfaced in the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care, an even larger hospital chain bankrolled by private equity.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026
The laser transforms the leather surface into a conductive and porous structure, eliminating the need for complex manufacturing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
But the Padres could not manage anything more, and the Pirates added five runs in the eighth inning against Adrián Morejón and a briefly porous defense to secure a 7-1 victory.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for porous
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Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026
The harms of porous insurance oversight have also surfaced in the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care, an even larger hospital chain bankrolled by private equity.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026
The laser transforms the leather surface into a conductive and porous structure, eliminating the need for complex manufacturing.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
But the Padres could not manage anything more, and the Pirates added five runs in the eighth inning against Adrián Morejón and a briefly porous defense to secure a 7-1 victory.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 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 12 Apr. 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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