plumbing

1 of 2

noun

plumb·​ing ˈplə-miŋ How to pronounce plumbing (audio)
Synonyms of plumbingnext
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

plumbing

2 of 2

present participle of plumb entry 3

Examples of plumbing in a Sentence

Noun The house has old plumbing.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The aircraft carrier spent more than 260 consecutive days at sea without a port call, with reports of supply shortages, broken plumbing and eight suicide attempts among its crew. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 Before opening up a wall, Martin could locate a leak or divine where the electricity and plumbing lines were routed. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 This approach removes mechanical pumps, large pressure vessels, and complex plumbing networks. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 The study showed buildings with uneven floors and deterioration in utility corridors for heating, cooling and plumbing lines. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plumbing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing plumbing

Rhymes for plumbing

See All Rhymes for plumbing

Browse Nearby Words

plumb in
plumbing
plumbing fixture
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumbing. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on plumbing

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for plumbing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plumbing

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