noun
Uncommon
penetration
peh-nih-TRAY-shuhn
Penetration (noun) means the act of entering into or passing through something. Example: “The bullet's penetration was stopped by the vest.”
noun
1
The act of entering into or passing through something.
"The bullet's penetration was stopped by the vest."
"Arsenal lacked urgency and penetration in a lazy, lacklustre opening half, sucked in by Forest's strategy of sitting back in blocks of defence waiting to hit them on the counter."
— Phil McNulty, Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal: Gunners in title race after they close gap to leaders Liverpool (2024)
"The penetration of cold water through the old boots soaked his socks."
"Roots grow deeper when there is easy penetration of the soil."
2
The proportion of a market or population that uses or owns a particular product.
"Smartphone penetration in the region has passed 90 percent."
How to use penetration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act of getting into or through something, or how widely something has spread through a market.
Common pairings
market penetration
deep penetration
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Word forms
- Plural
- penetrations
Fill the gap
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The bullet's _____ was stopped by the vest.
Etymology
From Latin penetratio, from penetrare ("to pierce, enter deeply").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for penetration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for penetration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “penetration” mean?
The word “penetration” means the act of entering into or passing through something. In plain terms, the act of getting into or through something, or how widely something has spread through a market.
How do you pronounce “penetration”?
“Penetration” is pronounced peh-nih-TRAY-shuhn (/pɛ.nəˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “penetration” in a sentence?
Here is “penetration” used in a sentence: “The bullet's penetration was stopped by the vest.”
What part of speech is “penetration”?
“Penetration” is a noun.
Where does the word “penetration” come from?
The word “penetration” comes from Latin. From Latin penetratio, from penetrare ("to pierce, enter deeply").
Is “penetration” a common word?
“Penetration” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “penetration” have?
“Penetration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of entering into or passing through something.
What is the difference between penetration and market penetration?
Penetration in its general sense means the act of entering into or passing through something, while market penetration specifically measures the proportion of a market or population that uses or owns a particular product. The general meaning applies to physical entry, while the business meaning applies to adoption rates.
What does high market penetration mean for a product?
High market penetration means a large proportion of the target market or population already uses or owns the product. Businesses track this figure to understand how much room remains for growth versus how saturated the market already is.
How is penetration used in a technical or business context?
In business and technology contexts, penetration most often refers to market penetration, the share of a market or population using a given product. In more general or physical contexts, it refers simply to the act of entering or passing through something.
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