Penetration: meaning, definitions and examples

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penetration

 

[ ˌpɛnɪˈtreɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in business

The action or process of making a way through or into something. It can also refer to the extent to which a product or idea is accepted or used.

Synonyms

infiltration, invasion, permeation

Examples of usage

  • The penetration of the market by a new brand was impressive.
  • The company's penetration into new markets led to increased profits.
Context #2 | Noun

in military

The action of penetrating an enemy's defenses, especially with an attack.

Synonyms

assault, incursion, infiltration

Examples of usage

  • The enemy's penetration of our defenses caught us off guard.
  • The successful penetration of the enemy's stronghold was a strategic victory.
Context #3 | Noun

in technology

The depth to which a tool, such as a drill, goes into a material.

Synonyms

depth, extent, reach

Examples of usage

  • The drill's penetration into the wood was impressive.
  • The depth of penetration of the laser beam was crucial for the experiment.

Translations

Translations of the word "penetration" in other languages:

🇵🇹 penetração

🇮🇳 प्रवेश

🇩🇪 Durchdringung

🇮🇩 penetrasi

🇺🇦 проникнення

🇵🇱 penetracja

🇯🇵 浸透

🇫🇷 pénétration

🇪🇸 penetración

🇹🇷 nüfuz

🇰🇷 침투

🇸🇦 اختراق

🇨🇿 pronikání

🇸🇰 prienik

🇨🇳 渗透

🇸🇮 penetracija

🇮🇸 innrás

🇰🇿 ену

🇬🇪 შეღწევა

🇦🇿 nüfuz

🇲🇽 penetración

Etymology

The word 'penetration' comes from the Latin word 'penetrare', meaning 'to enter' or 'to penetrate'. The term has been used since the late 16th century to describe the act of making a way through or into something. Over time, 'penetration' has been adopted in various fields such as business, military, and technology to indicate the process of entering or infiltrating different domains.

See also: impenetrable, penetrability, penetrable, penetrating, penetratingly, penetrative.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,951 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.