What does weatherproof mean?
Weatherproof is an adjective describing something that can withstand the effects of weather, especially rain, wind, sunlight, temperature changes, and moisture. It is used of clothing, buildings, coverings, coatings, electronic equipment, and other objects that are regularly exposed to outdoor conditions. The term often appears with materials such as jackets, construction, timber, and fabric. Weatherproof generally suggests a practical level of protection rather than suggesting that the object is invulnerable to every possible condition. The related verb, to weatherproof, means to make an object resistant to weather through suitable materials, design, or treatment. For example, old wooden windows can be weatherproofed with an appropriate sealant. Although waterproof is related, it refers specifically to resistance to water, whereas weatherproof covers a broader range of weather conditions. The word is neutral in register and is used in both British and American English.
Able to withstand or resist the effects of weather.
"The tent is made from weatherproof fabric."
Common in British and American English. It may describe clothing, buildings, materials, coatings, and equipment.
To make something able to withstand the effects of weather.
"They weatherproofed the shed before winter."
Less common than the adjective and usually transitive, with the protected object as its object.
Weatherproof is more than waterproof: it is the all-purpose promise of standing up to rain, wind, sun, and cold.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of weatherproof
Weatherproof is an English compound formed from weather and proof. Weather descends from Old English weder, while proof entered English through Old French from Latin probare, a word associated with testing, demonstrating, or establishing what is true. In the compound, proof came to mean protection or assurance against something, producing the modern sense of being able to withstand exposure to weather.
Related word forms
How weatherproof is actually used
The adjective is common in everyday British and American English for clothing, buildings, coatings, materials, and equipment. In formal or technical contexts, weather-resistant may be preferred when the protection is not complete; as a verb, to weatherproof is less frequent than the adjectival use.
Easily confused with weatherproof
Waterproof specifically means resistant to water, whereas weatherproof means able to withstand the broader effects of weather, including wind, sunlight, and temperature.
Weather-resistant suggests that something can withstand weather to some degree, while weatherproof gives the stronger impression of being fully protected against ordinary weather conditions.