1
: something that catches water
also : the amount of water caught
2
: the action of catching water

Examples of catchment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Long-range climate models aren’t offering much reassurance for the future either, with some projecting less rainfall and higher temperatures across the catchment in the decades ahead. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026 How Rain Barrels Work Rain barrels collect water from roofs or catchment surfaces through gutters, directing it into a storage container, says Eric Nieusma, a regenerative and organic farmer. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026 Next to the prison visitors’ parking lot, a small catchment pond holds runoff. Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 There are also rainwater catchment and water desalination systems, a plastic-free policy and a zero-waste program. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for catchment

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of catchment was in 1860

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catchment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catchment. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

catchment

noun
1
: the action of catching water
2
: something that catches water
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