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

There’s a Main Spa, with a treatment menu of Balinese and river stone massages and Rainforest lymphatic drainage facials; there are also outdoor heated spa pools and a sauna and steam room indoors. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Popular styles include lymphatic drainage, Gua sha, buccal and acupressure. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Lymphatic drainage, according to Cleveland Clinic, may increase blood circulation and reduce puffiness. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Entire neighborhoods were inundated and the drainage network swamped after over 12 inches of rain fell during two or three days last week, or nearly as much as the sprawling low-lying city usually gets in all of September. — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Sep. 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)