leakage
UK: ˈliːkɪdʒ | US: ˈliːkɪdʒ
n. the act or instance of leaking
n. the amount of fluid or gas that escapes through a leak
n. (figurative) unauthorized disclosure of information
The word "leakage" combines the verb "leak" (from Middle Dutch leken, meaning "to drip or seep") with the suffix "-age" (from Old French -age, derived from Latin -aticum, used to form nouns denoting action or result). The suffix "-age" systematically transforms verbs into nouns describing processes or outcomes (e.g., "breakage," "storage"). Thus, "leakage" literally means "the result of leaking," reflecting both physical and abstract contexts (e.g., fluid escape or data breaches).
The plumber fixed the pipe to prevent further water leakage.
A small leakage of confidential documents caused a media scandal.
Engineers measured the gas leakage in cubic meters per hour.
The old roof showed signs of leakage during heavy rain.
Strict policies reduce the risk of data leakage in companies.