sinkhole

noun

sink·​hole ˈsiŋk-ˌhōl 

1

: a hollow place or depression in which drainage collects

2

: a hollow in a limestone region that communicates with a cavern or passage

3

: sink sense 2

4

: something (such as an unprofitable investment) that steadily drains money or resources

a financial sinkhole

Examples of sinkhole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An unusual structural failure recently caused a dramatic, sinkhole-like collapse in an historic English churchyard — revealing a 300-year-old family vault. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025

Left unchecked, stagnant water collecting throughout the city after storms can quickly erode buildings and other infrastructure, or can create sinkholes. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 21 Nov. 2025

But these are not ordinary times, and a sinkhole is nothing compared with Newark airport in recent days. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 15 Nov. 2025

Police in South Pasadena told travelers to avoid Edgewood Drive due to eight different sinkholes that had opened up on the roadway. —Austin Turner, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sinkhole

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

Kids Definition

sinkhole

noun

sink·​hole ˈsiŋk-ˌhōl 

: a hollow place in which drainage collects