floodplain
noun
flood·plain
ˈfləd-ˌplān 
1
: level land that may be submerged by floodwaters
2
: a plain built up by stream deposition
Examples of floodplain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Water draining out of the floodplains draws millions of minnows and other small fry into the main channel, where masses of lurking catfish run to the edges to feed, while tiger fish wait in deeper water for their turn to strike.
—
Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
In an interview with The Times, Bonham said a combination of factors have contributed to the low salmon numbers, including the latest severe drought, the lack of natural floodplains available to fish, the lack of access to cold, clean waters, and some of the state’s water management decisions.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Staff at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which spans the river floodplain from Wabasha, Minnesota to Rock Island, Illinois, say a combination of habitat restoration projects and the banning of the pesticide DDT are allowing eagles to flourish.
—Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024
For over 86 million years prior to that moment, birds with teeth thrived among the forests, floodplains and oceans of the Mesozoic world.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
There is also a prohibition on building in the floodplain or modifying streams, including channelization.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
The city says the complex didn’t flood on Monday (though residents have said water got into the tents), but it is located on a floodplain.
—Luis Feliz Leon, Curbed, 21 Dec. 2023
During the four-year project, the tribe will remove invasive species and replant 45,000 native trees, like cottonwood, willow and mesquite to restore 390 acres of the river's historic floodplain close to the U.S.-Mexico border.
—The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
Barramundi and mangrove jack are both commercially important and have a lifecycle that involves the fish migrating to and from the reef, across tidal floodplains to freshwater rivers.
—Bianca Nogrady, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024
Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
In an interview with The Times, Bonham said a combination of factors have contributed to the low salmon numbers, including the latest severe drought, the lack of natural floodplains available to fish, the lack of access to cold, clean waters, and some of the state’s water management decisions.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Staff at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which spans the river floodplain from Wabasha, Minnesota to Rock Island, Illinois, say a combination of habitat restoration projects and the banning of the pesticide DDT are allowing eagles to flourish.
—Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024
For over 86 million years prior to that moment, birds with teeth thrived among the forests, floodplains and oceans of the Mesozoic world.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
There is also a prohibition on building in the floodplain or modifying streams, including channelization.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
The city says the complex didn’t flood on Monday (though residents have said water got into the tents), but it is located on a floodplain.
—Luis Feliz Leon, Curbed, 21 Dec. 2023
During the four-year project, the tribe will remove invasive species and replant 45,000 native trees, like cottonwood, willow and mesquite to restore 390 acres of the river's historic floodplain close to the U.S.-Mexico border.
—The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024
Barramundi and mangrove jack are both commercially important and have a lifecycle that involves the fish migrating to and from the reef, across tidal floodplains to freshwater rivers.
—Bianca Nogrady, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'floodplain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near floodplain
Cite this Entry
“Floodplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodplain. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
floodplain
noun
flood·plain
-ˌplān
1
: low flat land along a stream or river that may flood
2
: a plain built up from earth left by floodwaters
More from Merriam-Webster on floodplain
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for floodplain
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about floodplain
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