waterproof
Americanadjective
noun
verb (used with object)
adjective
noun
verb
Usage
What does waterproof mean? If something is waterproof, water can’t soak it or get inside of it. For example, waterproof boots will keep your feet dry even if you walk in water.Waterproof is also commonly used as a verb meaning to make something waterproof, as in We need to waterproof this basement so it won’t flood during rainstorms. Waterproof is sometimes used in the U.K. as a noun to refer to a waterproof garment, especially a raincoat, as in It’s raining, so you’d better wear your waterproof.Example: Make sure you get a waterproof tent—the ones that are only water-resistant can still let the rain in.
Other Word Forms
- waterproofer noun
- waterproofness noun
Etymology
Origin of waterproof
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.
Bees, however, often coat their nests with a waxy secretion that creates a waterproof, polished interior.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
He says there's lots of information out there about what to pack and stresses that good-quality waterproof clothing doesn't have to be expensive.
From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026
And much like his newly purchased pad, Simmons’ former home “utilizes solar-power for pool and radiant heated flooring, eco-materials and fire-resistant, waterproof triple-panel windows.”
From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026
Though it’s not waterproof, you can wear it during most workouts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
And on the beach the white and blue canoes that came from Nayarit were drawn up, canoes preserved for generations by a hard shell-like waterproof plaster whose making was a secret of the fishing people.
From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
