drainage

noun

drain·​age ˈdrā-nij 

1

: the act, process, or mode of draining

also : something drained off

2

: a device for draining : drain

also : a system of drains

3

: an area or district drained

Examples of drainage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bottom two layers of stone and roughly a foot of crushed gravel allow for proper drainage. —Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Making the situation even more difficult, a drainage pump broke down, said fellow diver Yoshitaka Isaji of Japan. —Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026

Canney recommends avoiding low-lying areas where water tends to collect, as poor drainage can lead to root rot—and other diseases. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 31 May 2026

Common issues include overgrown plants, lawns with poor drainage, and aging deck support structures. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

drainage

noun

drain·​age ˈdrā-nij 

1

a

: the act of draining

b

: something drained off

2

: a method of draining

also : a system of drains

Medical Definition

drainage

noun

drain·​age ˈdrā-nij 

1

: the act or process of drawing off fluids from a cavity or wound by means of suction or gravity

2

: a process of releasing internal conflicts or pent-up feelings (as hostility or guilt)