drainage

noun

drain·​age ˈdrā-nij 

1

: the act, process, or mode of draining

also : something drained off

2

: a device for draining : drain

also : a system of drains

3

: an area or district drained

Examples of drainage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Minor flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected in low-lying and poor drainage areas until 6:30 p.m., the weather service said in an alert. —David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Aug. 2025

In most homes, your washer and dryer share plumbing lines, including water supply and drainage. —Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025

Streams and drainages vulnerable to surges include Back Creek, Blackwater River, Carter Mill Creek, Carvin Creek and Bunker Hill Creek. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025

Both species make use of the region’s steep canyons and natural drainages, which serve as pathways between seasonal habitats. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 31 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

drainage

noun

drain·​age ˈdrā-nij 

1

a

: the act of draining

b

: something drained off

2

: a method of draining

also : a system of drains

Medical Definition

drainage

noun

drain·​age ˈdrā-nij 

1

: the act or process of drawing off fluids from a cavity or wound by means of suction or gravity

2

: a process of releasing internal conflicts or pent-up feelings (as hostility or guilt)