water-repellent

American

[waw-ter-ri-pel-uhnt, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tər rɪˌpɛl ənt, ˈwɒt ər- /

adjective

having a finish that resists but is not impervious to water.

water-repellent British

adjective

(of fabrics, garments, etc) having a finish that resists the absorption of water

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of water-repellent

First recorded in 1895–1900

Compare meaning

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

water-repellent vs. water-resistant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Since microplastics are also water repellent, the particles naturally stick to the algae when they meet in water.

From Science Daily • May 12, 2026

“The company phased out the substance in FY23, which had been used in durable water repellent products, a small percentage of our assortment,” the statement said.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Finally, apply oil-based silane/siloxane water repellent to your chimney.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2024

But some researchers are working on hydrophobic nets, where a treatment using a botanical pesticide essentially makes the nets water repellent.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2023

There are other connections to wildfires too, including increased hazards in wildfire burn scars, which can be waxy and water repellent.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023