# penetrative

> English word · Adjective · frequency rank #66,186

## Definitions
1. That can or does physically penetrate something; piercing, penetrating.
2. Displaying insight or discrimination; acute; penetrating.
3. That can penetrate opposition defences.
4. Pertaining to sexual activity involving penetration by the penis (or similar object).

## Etymology
From Middle English penetratyve, penetratif, from Medieval Latin penetrativus, from (the participle stem of) Latin penetrāre (“to penetrate”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/penetrative