What does nonporous mean?
Nonporous is an adjective describing something that has no pores or microscopic openings. Such a material generally does not absorb liquids or allow them to pass through easily, making the term especially useful in discussions of surfaces, coatings, membranes, containers, and manufactured components. For example, a nonporous coating can protect wood or metal from moisture, while a nonporous glass surface is easy to clean because it does not retain flavors or odors. The word is common in technical and industrial writing but is also understood in ordinary contexts. It should not be confused simply with waterproof: nonporous describes the absence of pores, whereas waterproof describes resistance to water, which can depend on additional properties and may be affected by damage or imperfect joins.
adjectiveHaving no pores or openings that allow liquid, gas, or other material to pass through. A nonporous surface does not absorb liquid readily.
- Having no pores or microscopic openings; not allowing liquid or other substances to pass through or be absorbed.
"The coating creates a nonporous barrier that helps protect the underlying wood from moisture."
"Glass is generally nonporous, so it does not absorb the flavors and odors of the foods it holds."
"The engineers selected a nonporous polymer for the container because it resisted moisture and chemical leakage."
A nonporous surface can look ordinary while quietly keeping water, oil, and other liquids from soaking in.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nonporous come from?
The word combines the Latin-derived prefix non-, meaning “not,” with porous, an adjective based on Latin porus, meaning “opening” or “pore.” The combined form developed in the modern period to describe materials lacking pores. Related English words include porous, porosity, pore, and the less common technical term poroid.
How nonporous is actually used
The term is common in technical, scientific, and industrial contexts, especially when describing surfaces, materials, coatings, membranes, and containers. It means that the material has no pores through which a fluid may pass; it does not necessarily mean that the material is resistant to damage, cracking, or chemical attack.
Easily confused with nonporous
A porous material contains interconnected openings that allow substances to pass through, whereas a nonporous material lacks such openings.