sump

noun

ˈsəmp 

1

: a pit or reservoir serving as a drain or receptacle for liquids: such as

a

: cesspool

b

: a pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (such as the oil-circulating system of an internal combustion engine)

c

chiefly British : oil pan

2

British : crankcase

3

[German Sumpf, literally, marsh, from Middle High German — more at swamp]

a

: the lowest part of a mine shaft into which water drains

b

: an excavation ahead of regular work in driving a mine tunnel or sinking a mine shaft

4

: something resembling a sump : sink sense 2

Examples of sump in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The engine also runs a dry sump system, with the oil tank mounted on top freeing up space, reducing complexity, and keeping things accessible for whoever ends up maintaining this beast. —New Atlas, 10 Aug. 2025

Its ingenious design used a monocoque chassis and a transverse four-cylinder engine with the transmission relocated in the sump. —Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 30 July 2025

Many plumbers and remodelers choose to install a sewage ejector sump under the basement floor. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025

Failure to do this will create a vacuum within the sealed sump. —Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sompe swamp — more at swamp

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sump

• sump pump

Rhymes for sump

• bump
• chump
• clump
• crump
• dump
• gump
• hump
• jump
• lump
• plump
• pump
• rump

Kids Definition

sump

noun

ˈsəmp 

: a pit or reservoir serving as a container or as a drain for liquids