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

Sterile mixes prevent seed loss from soil contaminants, improve drainage, and have a fine texture easier for seeds to break through. —Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 20 Apr. 2026

Compost helps to improve soil structure and drainage. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026

Gnats are attracted to succulents that are planted in soil that is too wet and doesn’t have proper drainage. —Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026

Surrounding the basin, which would have been filled with water, is a complex system of drainage channels; at its center is a square plinth that may have supported a statue of the local deity Pelusius. —Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 19 Apr. 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)