water-resistant

American  

[waw-ter-ri-zis-tuhnt, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tər rɪˌzɪs tənt, ˈwɒt ər- /

adjective

1. resisting though not entirely preventing the penetration of water.

---

water-resistant British  

adjective

1. (esp of fabrics) designed to resist but not entirely prevent the penetration of water

---

Etymology

Origin of water-resistant

First recorded in 1920–25

Compare meaning

How does water-resistant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• water-repellent vs. water-resistant

Example Sentences

Early in the process, Quezon, a historian and grandson of a former Philippine president, learned to his dismay that the local hardwood and water-resistant species used to build the galleons had long been wiped out.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

I have one of those sports fabric shirts for breathability, and I put on a two-layer coat, so it has the thermal fleece on the inside and a water-resistant outer layer.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

It is a company making safety-compliant workboots and water-resistant cargo pants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

The process resembles natural strategies seen in diving bell spiders, which carry air bubbles underwater, and in fire ants, which form floating rafts using their water-resistant bodies.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

A blanket of the water-resistant, feather-heavy Ozakian spider silk was cut into a protective covering for Vye.

From Star Hunter by Norton, Andre