PENETRANT definition: a person or thing that penetrates. See examples of penetrant used in a sentence.

Jan 6, 2015 · The meaning of PENETRANT is penetrating.

penetrant in American English (ˈpɛnɪtrənt ) adjective Origin: L penetrans, prp. of penetrare

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the word penetrant, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Oct 5, 2025 · Noun penetrant (plural penetrants) Something, especially a liquid, that penetrates.

Whole-brain radiation treatment—highly penetrant X-rays dosed directly through her skull—would also be used prophylactically against leukemia growth in her brain.

Penetrant refers to a quality or characteristic of a chemical or physical agent that allows it to infiltrate or permeate a substance.

The term “penetrant” is often used in science, particularly in material science and engineering, to describe substances with the ability to penetrate surfaces to reveal imperfections.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: penetrant /ˈpɛnɪtrənt/ adj sharp; penetrating n a substance that lowers the surface tension of a liquid and thus causes it to penetrate …

Penetrants, or penetrating items, are the mechanical, electrical or structural items that pass through an opening in a wall or floor, such as pipes, electrical conduits, ducting, cables and cable trays, or …