plumbing

noun

plumb·​ing ˈplə-miŋ How to pronounce plumbing (audio)
1
: the act of using a plumb
2
: a plumber's occupation or trade
3
a
: the apparatus (such as pipes and fixtures) concerned in the distribution and use of water in a building
b
: an internal system that resembles plumbing
especially : one consisting of conduits or channels for conveying fluids

Examples of plumbing in a Sentence

The house has old plumbing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There's no need for plumbing or complicated installation. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025 After the Synapse meltdown stranded end-customers without access to funds and a blizzard of fraud losses peppered the headlines, U.S. regulators decided that outsourcing the plumbing didn’t mean outsourcing accountability. Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 Repairs include mechanical/plumbing elements, as well as wood flooring in its historic gymnasium, and the initial phase of three was approved unanimously by trustees Friday. Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025 Yosemite Hospitality also failed to report to NPS emergency maintenance problems like a plumbing failure at The Ahwahnee Hotel and multiple outstanding issues for several years. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for plumbing

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plumbing was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumbing. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

plumbing

noun
plumb·​ing ˈpləm-iŋ How to pronounce plumbing (audio)
1
: a plumber's work
2
: a system of pipes for supplying and carrying off water in a building
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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