What does hydrophilic mean?
Hydrophilic means having a strong affinity for water. The adjective is used mainly in scientific and technical contexts to describe substances, materials, molecular groups, or surfaces that are readily wetted by water, mix with it, or otherwise interact favourably with it. A hydrophilic coating, for example, allows water to spread across a surface rather than bead into droplets, while hydrophilic polymers can absorb or bind moisture. The opposite is hydrophobic, meaning water-repellent. Although “water-loving” is a useful plain-language explanation, the precise meaning can be narrower than that translation: a substance may be hydrophilic without dissolving entirely, and the term is also used to distinguish particular regions or functional groups within a larger molecular structure. Understanding the word is useful in chemistry, biology, medicine, cosmetics, and materials science, where small differences in interaction with water can affect solubility, absorption, adhesion, and biological behaviour.
adjectiveHaving a strong affinity for water and tending to dissolve in it or mix with it. In chemistry and biology, it describes substances or surfaces that interact favourably with water.
- Having a strong affinity for water, tending to mix with it or be wetted by it.
"The coating gives the fabric a hydrophilic surface, allowing it to absorb moisture quickly."
"Researchers developed a hydrophilic material that can collect drinking water from humid air."
"Hydrophilic molecules are often used in products that need to spread evenly across a wet surface."
Hydrophilic is the scientific opposite of oily: it describes a surface that welcomes water instead of making it bead up and roll away.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hydrophilic come from?
The word combines the combining form “hydro-,” from Greek hydor, meaning “water,” with “-philic,” from Greek philos, meaning “loving” or “fond of.” The resulting adjective has followed the broader English pattern of combining Greek roots to describe affinity for a particular substance. Related forms include “hydrophile,” a noun for a water-attracting substance, and “hydrophily,” the corresponding noun for the quality or state of being hydrophilic.
Related word forms
How hydrophilic is actually used
The term is primarily technical, especially in chemistry, biology, medicine, and materials science. It is broader than simply “water-soluble,” since it can describe a material or molecular group that interacts strongly with water without necessarily dissolving completely.
Easily confused with hydrophilic
Hydrophobic substances repel water, whereas hydrophilic substances interact favourably with it and are readily wetted by water.