power plant

noun

1
: an electric utility generating station
2
: an engine and related parts supplying the motive power of a self-propelled object (such as a rocket or automobile)

Examples of power plant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The filing proposes a bifurcated regulatory model that could allow key non-nuclear components of its power plant to be built and operated prior to receiving a full nuclear license. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026 Large quantities of water are used by the power plants that generate the electricity needed to run these facilities. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 Nuclearn offers only single-location solutions to deal with this, so that a power plant’s data can never leave that site. — Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2026 One Florida utility’s own filing for these rules shows about $1 billion of new power plants still being paid off in 2047. — Mark McNees, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for power plant

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of power plant was in 1871

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Cite this Entry

“Power plant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/power%20plant. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

power plant

noun
: a building in which electric power is generated

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