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

After the ore has been extracted, smelted and used in products like plumbing systems, wind turbines and electronics, the impact across 4,500 acres in the heart of the Santa Rita Mountains would leave behind an open pit that Nelson said would dip below the region’s water table. —Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 8 Dec. 2025

The leak happened when a valve that forms part of a now defunct plumbing system was opened in error. —Jack Guy, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025

This is most likely because no one has used the plumbing in a while. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2025

The disease does not spread from person to person, but outbreaks can grow if the bacteria get into a building's water supply, including in shower heads, sink faucets, hot water tanks, heaters and other plumbing systems. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Dec. 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