WordGarden.iohermetically
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hɜːmˈɛtɪkli/
US
- /hərˈmɛtɪkəli/
Meanings
Adverb
in an airtight or completely sealed way
so as to be completely isolated from outside influence or contact
Beyond the definition
Imagine a tiny glass jar, sealed so completely that no air can get in or out. That is the basic idea of "hermetically." We usually see it in the phrase hermetically sealed, especially when talking about food, medicine, lab containers, or anything that must be protected from air, moisture, or contamination. Sometimes the word is also used more broadly for something that is shut off from outside influence, but its main use is still the literal idea of an airtight seal.
Imagine closing a container so carefully that not even air can slip through. That is the heart of "hermetically." The word is most often used in the phrase hermetically sealed, which means sealed completely airtight. It usually appears in practical situations where keeping something pure, safe, or fresh matters.
Think about food preservation: canned goods, medicine containers, and lab equipment may be hermetically sealed to keep out air, moisture, dust, or bacteria. That kind of seal helps protect what is inside and keeps conditions stable over time. In technical writing, the word often points to a seal that is complete and reliable, not just tightly closed.
The word can also be used in a wider, more figurative way. A group, system, or world can be described as hermetically sealed if it feels cut off from outside ideas or contact. In that sense, the image is still the same: something closed so fully that little or nothing from outside can enter.
So whether it refers to a medical package, a scientific chamber, or a closed social world, "hermetically" carries the idea of being fully sealed off from the outside.
Examples
- 1
Food packaging
The coffee stays fresh because the bag is hermetically sealed.
- 2
Laboratory storage
The lab keeps the sample in a hermetically sealed container until it is tested.
- 3
Figurative use
No culture is hermetically sealed from outside influence.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- hermeticallyadverb