What does "penetration" mean?
The act of penetrating something.
Penetration
/pɛ.nɪˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of penetrating something.
- Grammar: penetration is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absorption depth, access, acuity, acumen.
- Useful contrasts: barrier, decline, defense.
- Usage evidence: The meeting of man and God must always mean a penetration and entry of the divine into the human and a self-immergence of man in the Divinity.
How to use "penetration"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "penetration" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "penetration" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "penetration" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "penetration" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "penetration" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absorption depth" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "penetration", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of penetrating something. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of entering into or through something wordnet
- 3 The insertion of the penis (or similar object) during sexual intercourse. countable, uncountable
"Any penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense."
- 4 the act (by a man) of inserting his penis into the vagina of a woman wordnet
- 5 The act of penetrating a given situation with the mind or faculties; perception, discernment. countable, uncountable
"[…] my observations of her looks and actions became acutely sharpened, and that to a degree, which, notwithstanding my efforts to conceal it, could not escape her penetration."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 an attack that penetrates into enemy territory wordnet
- 7 The act of progressing or moving forward through or into something. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 8 the depth to which something penetrates (especially the depth reached by a projectile that hits a target) wordnet
- 9 A number or fraction that represents how many cards/decks will be dealt before shuffling, in contrast to the total number of cards/decks in play. countable, uncountable
- 10 the ability to make way into or through something wordnet
- 11 The proportion of the target audience who buy or use the specified product or service. countable, uncountable
"The electrification of the lines radiating from Casablanca originated with the policy of economic penetration and conciliation pursued by Marshal Lyautey for the pacification of Morocco."
- 12 clear or deep perception of a situation wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The meeting of man and God must always mean a penetration and entry of the divine into the human and a self-immergence of man in the Divinity."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "penetration"?
Common synonyms include: absorption depth, access, acuity, acumen, acupunctuation, acupuncture.
How do you use "penetration" in a sentence?
The meeting of man and God must always mean a penetration and entry of the divine into the human and a self-immergence of man in the Divinity.
How do you pronounce "penetration"?
Pronounced /pɛ.nɪˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English penetracioun, from Old French penetracïon, and its source, Latin penetrātiō, from the participle stem of penetrō (“pierce”, verb). Morphologically penetrate + -ion.