ETYM Latin hydrophobicus, Greek: cf. French hydrophobique.
Tending not to combine with water, or incapable of dissolving in water; insoluble or immiscible in water. A property exhibited by non-polar organic compounds, including the petroleum hydrocarbons.
1. Abnormally afraid of water; SYN. aquaphobic.
2. (Chemistry) Lacking affinity for water; tending not to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water.
In chemistry, a term describing functional groups that repel water (the opposite of hydrophilic).