breathable

adjective

breath·​able ˈbrē-t͟hə-bəl How to pronounce breathable (audio)
Synonyms of breathablenext
1
: suitable for breathing
breathable air
2
: allowing air to pass through : porous
a breathable synthetic fabric
breathability
ˌbrē-t͟hə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce breathable (audio)
noun

Examples of breathable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
They’re built with enough structure to keep their shape, while still maintaining the airy, breathable feel of beach pants. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 Keep scrolling to find styles that deliver breathable comfort while looking pulled together for all kinds of sunny-day plans. — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 The cover is made from 100 percent cotton percale, which is especially soft and breathable on warm nights. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 3 July 2026 The buttery-soft Everyday Sheets are lightweight, breathable and designed for year-round comfort, while bamboo-viscose quilts help keep you cool throughout the night. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for breathable

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of breathable was in 1651

Browse Nearby Words

breath
breathable
Breathalyzer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breathable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breathable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on breathable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for breathable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All