penetrant

1 of 2

adjective

pen·​e·​trant ˈpe-nə-trənt How to pronounce penetrant (audio)
1
2
of a gene : producing a phenotypic effect : exhibiting penetrance

penetrant

2 of 2

noun

: one that penetrates or is capable of penetrating

Examples of penetrant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
If there are larger, more penetrant rust stains, begin at step one with an overnight soak or consider using method 2. Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 15 July 2024 In some cases these risk alleles are very penetrant, in that a particular state predicts with high likelihood a disease phenotype. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2013 Through working with master jewelers to realize her penetrant vision, Lipton has created something that embodies much more than a fine jewelry collection. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 7 Apr. 2021
Noun
An American Airlines worker sprays florescent penetrant on engine components to check for defects at a hangar in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2024 Begin the processs by spraying the blade bolt with penetrant. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023 If the bolt refuses to budge, stop and make a second application of penetrant. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023 Under our model, the causal sites are both rare and relatively high-penetrant contributors to disease, and will therefore be unlikely to be detected in a small number of control samples. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2011 That created a pseudo-virus that would mimic 2019-nCoV’s cell-penetrant biology but leave out its ability to replicate and cause illness. Damian Garde, STAT, 5 Feb. 2020 Don’t Forget the Penetrant Always use a penetrant when backing out damaged screws in metal. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 8 Nov. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1734, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penetrant was in 1543

Dictionary Entries Near penetrant

Cite this Entry

“Penetrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penetrant. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on penetrant

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!