water-resistant

American

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

adjective

resisting though not entirely preventing the penetration of water.

water-resistant British

adjective

(esp of fabrics) designed to resist but not entirely prevent the penetration 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-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

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

WSJ | Buy Side: Keep your body protected from the sun with these expert-approved, water-resistant sunscreens.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

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

The substances have incredibly strong bonds which giving them properties such as being water-resistant and oil-resistant and they are cheap to manufacture.

From BBC • 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

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