sewer

1 of 3

noun (1)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
Synonyms of sewernext
: an artificial usually subterranean conduit to carry off sewage and sometimes surface water (as from rainfall)

sewer

2 of 3

noun (2)

sew·​er ˈsō-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

3 of 3

noun (3)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
: a medieval household officer often of high rank in charge of serving the dishes at table and sometimes of seating and tasting

Synonyms of sewer

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Noun (2)

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Examples of sewer in a Sentence

Noun (2) a good sewer who designs her own clothing
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.
Noun
Five people were spotted climbing out of the sewer on the Upper East Side of Manhattan early Friday morning. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 Soto-Martínez and Hernandez won reelection outright in the June primary because their constituents appreciated their sewer socialism approach, focusing on quality-of-life issues instead of ideological revolution. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Additional main lines would be needed to extend central sewer service. — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 In 2024, the city cited Perera for removing the public sidewalk to replace the sewer line and leaving it that way. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sewer

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from assewer, essiver to drain, from Vulgar Latin *exaquare, from Latin ex- + aqua water — more at island

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Anglo-French asseour, literally, seater, from Anglo-French asseer to seat — more at assize

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sewer was in the 14th century

Rhymes for sewer

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Browse Nearby Words

sewen
sewer
sewerage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

sewer

1 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsō(-ə)r How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

2 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇(-ə)r
: a usually covered drain to carry off water and sewage

More from Merriam-Webster on sewer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sewer

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