What does waterproofing mean?
Waterproofing is the process of making an object, surface, or structure resistant to the passage of water. The word may refer to the treatment itself, such as applying a protective coating, or to the materials and systems used, including membranes, sealants, membranes, and protective layers. It is especially common in construction, engineering, textiles, automotive manufacture, and consumer products. In buildings, waterproofing helps prevent moisture from reaching foundations, roofs, bathrooms, and other vulnerable areas, where repeated exposure can cause deterioration. In clothing and equipment, it describes coatings or fabrics designed to keep water from penetrating while allowing perspiration to escape. Although “water resistance” is sometimes used loosely for waterproofing, the terms are not always interchangeable: genuine waterproofing prevents water from passing through, whereas water-resistant materials may merely slow or reduce penetration. The word is therefore useful for describing both a practical treatment and the engineered barrier that results from it.
nounWaterproofing is the process of making an object or surface resistant to the passage of water, or the material, treatment, or system used to do this.
- The process or treatment of making an object or surface resistant to the passage of water.
- A water-resistant coating, membrane, material, or system used for this purpose.
"The contractor applied a waterproofing membrane to the roof before installing the final surface."
"They inspected the waterproofing around the bathroom fittings for signs of damage."
"The manufacturer redesigned the phone case to improve its waterproofing without adding bulk."
The plural is uncommon. It generally refers to separate waterproofing products or distinct applications rather than to waterproofing as a general process.
"The range includes separate waterproofings for roofs, foundations, and bathrooms."
The same idea protects a raincoat, a bathroom, a boat, and a phone: make water unable to get through.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does waterproofing come from?
Waterproofing is an English formation built from water, proof, and the suffix -ing. In this compound, “proof” conveys resistance or protection against something, so the word names the process or product of making something resistant to water. Its development took place alongside the wider use of waxes, oils, paints, rubber, and later manufactured membranes and coatings as barriers against moisture.
How waterproofing is actually used
Waterproofing is generally used as an uncountable noun when referring to a process or treatment, although the plural “waterproofings” is occasionally used for distinct products or applications. It is commonly used attributively before words such as “membrane,” “coating,” and “system.” The closed form “waterproofing” is standard; “water proofing” is less usual.