penetration

[pen-i-trey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or power of penetrating. penetrating.

2. mental acuteness, discernment, or insight.

   a scholar of rare penetration.

   Synonyms: profundity, depth, discrimination, perception, understanding

3. the obtaining of a share of a market for some commodity or service.

4. the extension, usually peaceful, of the influence of one nation or culture into the affairs of another.

5. a military attack that penetrates into enemy territory.

6. Gunnery.,  the depth to which a projectile goes into the target.

7. the measure of relative depth of field of a telescope or microscope, especially a binocular microscope.

penetration

/ ˌpɛnɪˈtreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of penetrating

2. the ability or power to penetrate

3. keen insight or perception

4. military an offensive manoeuvre that breaks through an enemy's defensive position

5. Also called: market penetration. the proportion of the total number of potential purchasers of a product or service who either are aware of its existence or actually buy it

6. another name for depth of field

Other Word Forms

• nonpenetration noun
• prepenetration noun
• self-penetration noun
• transpenetration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penetration¹

First recorded in 1595–1605, penetration is from the Late Latin word penetrātiōn- (stem of penetrātiō ). See penetrate, -ion

Example Sentences

The analyst cites the Indonesian hospital network operator’s strong nationwide penetration, scale advantage and service upgrades.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Slower-than-expected EV penetration has put a lid on sales and plagued profitability aspirations.

Read more on Barron's

The case has all the hallmarks of foreign penetration inside CBP.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It has provoked serious allegations from Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's former chief adviser, about Chinese penetration of sensitive British data - which have only been partially denied.

Read more on BBC

A "pentest" - or penetration test - is the term for when ethical hackers are hired to assess the security of an organisation in a controlled and professional way.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• infiltration 
• seepage