plumbing

noun

plumb·​ing ˈplə-miŋ 

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

Examples of plumbing in a Sentence

The house has old plumbing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Carter said discolored water may be caused by routine maintenance flushing, changes in plumbing, water main breaks or similar events. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 6 Oct. 2025

Carbon Markets as Geopolitical Leverage That investor confidence may grow stronger as Beijing builds out the financial plumbing of the transition. —Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025

The reason is correspondent banking, the plumbing of international finance built for a different era. —Chris Maurice, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025

In simple terms, the plumbing in the background was extremely complex to get done. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plumbing

• indoor plumbing
• plumbing fixture

Rhymes for plumbing

• coming
• cumming
• drumming
• gumming
• humming
• numbing
• strumming
• summing
• thrumming
• thumbing
• becoming
• forthcoming

Kids Definition

plumbing

noun

plumb·​ing ˈpləm-iŋ 

1

: a plumber's work

2

: a system of pipes for supplying and carrying off water in a building