porous

USAGE SUMMARY

"porous" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has many small holes, gaps, or other openings that allow liquids or gases to pass through it. For example, "The soil in my garden is very porous, so the water seeps down easily after I water the plants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Armed incursions from Darfur are frequent across the porous border, endangering humanitarian convoys on the 11-hour drive from the nearest gravel road.

The Guardian

Over the past few months, a small but steady trickle of Boko Haram members have been deserting and turning themselves in to authorities in Cameroon, which is linked to Nigeria by a porous northern border.

The Guardian

Hall wants the BBC to be "more fluid, more porous", less isolationist.

The Guardian

Given the two countries' porous border and Kayes importance as a mining and trading region that sees workers crossing the border daily, Mali has long been seen as a potential weak point in the regional epidemic.

The Guardian

Mayors must deal with the consequences of issues like poverty, unemployment, undocumented workers and market injustices without being able to control their origins in porous border controls or global markets that nation states are supposed to address but haven't.

The Guardian

He wanted the BBC to be "more fluid, more porous".

The Guardian

Rampaging Fijians pillaged the city centre, looting mainly Indian shops.Hundreds of ethnic-Fijian supporters of Mr Speight have entered the Parliament gardens, passing through a porous police cordon.

The Economist

It aims to ban trade in items the north might need for its weapons (such as gauges for wind tunnels), luxury goods its rulers might want for themselves (such as yachts, jewellery and racing cars) and also the foreign cash they would need to buy them.But the sanctions remain porous.

The Economist

It is also awash with Afghan narcotics from across the long, porous border.

The Economist

When the hydromel has solidified, the spheres are dissolved using a solvent called tetrahydrofurane, leaving a porous matrix.

The Economist

Its borders are porous, the army is overstretched and its 16m citizens are spread over an area twice the size of France.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing materials, use "porous" to emphasize the presence of interconnected pores allowing fluid or gas flow. For instance, "porous rock" is good for aquifers because it stores water efficiently.

Common error

Avoid using "porous to" unnecessarily. While technically understandable, "porous" already implies permeability. Use "porous material" instead of "material porous to water" for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "porous" functions primarily to describe a material's characteristic of having pores or tiny holes, allowing liquids, gases, or other substances to pass through. Ludwig AI confirms this as a correct and usable word. The examples show its application in describing borders, materials, and even abstract concepts like organizational structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "porous" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective, as validated by Ludwig AI, used to describe the characteristic of materials or boundaries that allow passage. Predominantly found in News & Media, the term indicates permeability and penetrability across various contexts, from physical substances to abstract systems. When using "porous", remember to focus on the material's inherent quality of having pores, avoiding unnecessary phrases like "porous to". Considering alternatives like "permeable" can enhance precision. Embrace "porous" to effectively convey the idea of permeability in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permeable

Emphasizes the ability of substances to pass through, similar to "porous".

permeable membrane

Specifies a membrane that allows passage of substances.

full of holes

Describes the physical state of having many openings.

easily penetrated

Focuses on the ease with which something can pass through.

allowing passage

Highlights the act of permitting substances to go through.

not watertight

Indicates that the material does not prevent water from passing through.

leaky

Implies that fluids escape unintentionally.

perforated

Refers to having holes made by piercing.

penetrable

Describes something that can be entered or passed through.

with openings

Simply states the presence of apertures.

FAQs

How can I use "porous" in a sentence?

You can use "porous" to describe materials that allow liquids or gases to pass through, such as "The "porous rock" allowed water to filter into the underground reservoir."

What words are similar to "porous"?

Alternatives to "porous" include "permeable", "holey", or "permeable membrane", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "porous to water"?

While understandable, it's more concise and common to simply say "porous", as it already implies the ability to allow substances to pass through. For instance, "The soil is porous" is preferable to "The soil is porous to water".

What is the difference between "porous" and "permeable"?

"Porous" refers to a material with many small holes, whereas "permeable" specifically describes the ability of a substance to allow fluids or gases to pass through. They are often used interchangeably, but "permeable" emphasizes the act of allowing passage.