Definition

The state or quality of having small holes or spaces that allow air or liquid to pass through.

Example

The porousness of the sponge makes it very absorbent.

Conversation

Have you heard about the porousness of that new sponge they advertised?

Yeah, I saw that! They claim it absorbs water really well.

I wonder how the porousness affects its cleaning power.

It probably makes a big difference — more holes mean more dirt can be trapped!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Porousness → It is formed from "porous" (from Latin *porosus*, meaning full of pores) and "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "porousness" refers to the quality of being full of pores or having small openings that allow the passage of fluids or air.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'full of pores' ('porous') — the '-ness' indicates a state or quality. This helps you remember that porousness means the quality of having many small openings.

Visually Confused Words