# penetration

/ˌpɛnəˈtɹeɪʃən/ (US) · /pˌɛnɪtɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/penetration
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. physical entry

noun · CEFR B2

the act of moving into or through something, like a needle going into skin or a bullet hitting a target.

For teachers: 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'

### 2. market reach

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

the percentage of people in a group who buy a certain product or use a service.

For teachers: 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'

### 3. intellectual insight

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

the ability to understand complicated ideas or see the truth in a situation.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. sexual act

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

the act of one body part or object entering another during sex.

For teachers: 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

## Examples

- The company wants to increase its market penetration this year.
- The heavy rain resulted in deep water penetration through the old roof tiles.
- Successful market penetration often requires a combination of aggressive pricing strategies and localized advertising to overcome established domestic competitors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.