Absorptiveness refers to the ability of a substance or material to absorb moisture, water or other liquids. The term "absorbency" is often used interchangeably with absorptiveness. Other synonyms for absorptiveness include "soakage", "sponginess", "porosity", and "permeability". These words may be used to describe materials such as sponges, fabrics, filters, or even soil. Porous materials are typically highly absorbent and can easily soak up liquids. Permeability refers to the ability of a material to allow fluids to pass through it. Sponginess is commonly used to describe soft, absorbent objects, such as a sponge. In scientific contexts, the term "capacitance" may also be used as a synonym for absorptiveness.