irrigation

noun

ir·​ri·​ga·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the watering of land by artificial means to foster plant growth

2

: the therapeutic flushing of a body part with a stream of liquid

Examples of irrigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Farmers face an even bigger threat at the start of the winter growing season because irrigation depends on electricity and there is no diesel in the area to run pumps. — Hamza Fahmy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Fifty years and several irrigation projects later, just over 65,000 people lived in Phoenix. — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026

Democrats around the country dream of a blue wave in Texas, but Party activists and voters describe needing something more akin to an irrigation system. — Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026

Spread Gravel Gophers prefer to excavate smooth, loose dirt, so spreading a 6- to 8-inch layer of coarse gravel around flexible underground irrigation pipes or cables can protect them from gnawing gophers. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for irrigation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

irrigation

noun

ir·​ri·​ga·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən 

: an act or process of irrigating