Word
penetration
Phoneticspen·e·tra·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌpɛnəˈtɹeɪʃən/
UK/pˌɛnɪtɹˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01physical entry
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of moving into or through something, like a needle going into skin or a bullet hitting a target.
n. the act or process of piercing or entering a physical body or substance.
“The thick walls of the old castle prevented the penetration of the radio signal.”
“The armour was specifically designed to resist the penetration of high-velocity projectiles during close-quarters combat.”
Usage
often used with the preposition 'of' or 'into'
02market reach
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Technical
n. the percentage of people in a group who buy a certain product or use a service.
n. the extent to which a product or service is recognised or bought by a particular target market.
“The company is happy with its market penetration in Europe this year.”
“Despite aggressive advertising campaigns, the brand struggled to achieve significant market penetration in rural territories dominated by local competitors.”
Usage
frequently appears in the compound 'market penetration'
03intellectual insight
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal · Literary
n. the ability to understand complicated ideas or see the truth in a situation.
n. the capacity for acute mental discernment or the act of perceiving the inner nature of a situation.
“Her analysis of the problem showed great intellectual penetration.”
“The philosopher was celebrated for his remarkable penetration, often identifying logical fallacies that his contemporaries had overlooked for decades.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04sexual act
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Medicine Technical · Formal
n. the act of one body part or object entering another during sex.
n. the insertion of the penis or an object into a body orifice during sexual activity.
“The doctor explained that the injury occurred during penetration.”
“Legal definitions of the act often hinge on the specific degree of penetration recorded in the forensic report.”
Usage
used in medical, legal, or formal biological contexts
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“China's EV penetration rate is expected to continue rising, albeit at a slower pace toward the end of the decade, to reach 75% to 80% by 2030, a researcher at state oil company Sinopec said on Thursday.” “The researchers produced a base material with a hardness above 1400 HV (a unit representing resistance to penetration), without causing defects or decomposition.” “We performed numerous safety tests on animal and human tissue to ensure that the penetration event allowed for drug delivery without causing a full thickness perforation or any other serious adverse events,” Abramson says.” “This wasn't just a mild penetration of the sound barrier," Baumgartner's doctor, Jonathan Clark, said on Monday as the skydiver and his crew celebrated Sunday's record-breaking dive from about 24 miles (39 kilometres) up.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/penetration