the property or state of being permeable.
Also called magnetic permeability. Electricity. a measure of the change in magnetic induction produced when a magnetic material replaces air, expressed as a coefficient or a set of coefficients that multiply the components of magnetic intensity to give the components of magnetic induction.
Geology. the capability of a porous rock or sediment to permit the flow of fluids through its pore spaces.
Aeronautics. the rate at which gas is lost through the envelope of an aerostat, usually expressed as the number of liters thus diffused in one day through a square meter.
Nautical. the capacity of a space in a vessel to absorb water, measured with reference to its temporary or permanent contents and expressed as a percentage of the total volume of the space.

1750–60; permea(ble) + -bility

nonpermeability, noun Unabridged
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World English Dictionary
permeability (ˌpɜːmɪəˈbɪlɪtɪ)
1.  the state or quality of being permeable
2.  relative permeability See also magnetic constant μ a measure of the response of a medium to a magnetic field, expressed as the ratio of the magnetic flux density in the medium to the field strength; measured in henries per metre
3.  civil engineering the rate of diffusion of a fluid under pressure through soil
4.  the rate at which gas diffuses through the surface of a balloon or airship, usually expressed in litres per square metre per day

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

permeability per·me·a·bil·i·ty (pûr'mē-ə-bĭl'ĭ-tē)

  1. The property or condition of being permeable.

  2. The rate of flow of a liquid or gas through a porous material.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
permeability   (pûr'mē-ə-bĭl'ĭ-tē)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. The ability of a substance to allow another substance to pass through it, especially the ability of a porous rock, sediment, or soil to transmit fluid through pores and cracks. Geologic permeability is usually measured in millidarcies. See more at darcy.

  2. Magnetic permeability.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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Example sentences
  of light.
It props the fractures open, thereby increasing permeability.
The permeability of the formation has a tremendous influence on the speed at
  which the natural gas can be withdrawn.
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