floodplain
noun
flood·plain
ˈfləd-ˌplān 
1
: level land that may be submerged by floodwaters
2
: a plain built up by stream deposition
Examples of floodplain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dos Rios — California’s 281st state park — will open June 12, and will provide preservation benefits as well as floodplain protection, officials said.
—
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The idea is to restore natural floodplains in key areas around sites that need protection.
—Richard Schiffman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Complications with the other sites included proximity to floodplains and wetlands and distance from usable transmission lines.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2024
Water draining out of the floodplains draws millions of minnows and other small fry into the main channel, where masses of lurking catfish run to the edges to feed, while tiger fish wait in deeper water for their turn to strike.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
In an interview with The Times, Bonham said a combination of factors have contributed to the low salmon numbers, including the latest severe drought, the lack of natural floodplains available to fish, the lack of access to cold, clean waters, and some of the state’s water management decisions.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Staff at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which spans the river floodplain from Wabasha, Minnesota to Rock Island, Illinois, say a combination of habitat restoration projects and the banning of the pesticide DDT are allowing eagles to flourish.
—Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024
For over 86 million years prior to that moment, birds with teeth thrived among the forests, floodplains and oceans of the Mesozoic world.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
There is also a prohibition on building in the floodplain or modifying streams, including channelization.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
The idea is to restore natural floodplains in key areas around sites that need protection.
—Richard Schiffman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Complications with the other sites included proximity to floodplains and wetlands and distance from usable transmission lines.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2024
Water draining out of the floodplains draws millions of minnows and other small fry into the main channel, where masses of lurking catfish run to the edges to feed, while tiger fish wait in deeper water for their turn to strike.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
In an interview with The Times, Bonham said a combination of factors have contributed to the low salmon numbers, including the latest severe drought, the lack of natural floodplains available to fish, the lack of access to cold, clean waters, and some of the state’s water management decisions.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Staff at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which spans the river floodplain from Wabasha, Minnesota to Rock Island, Illinois, say a combination of habitat restoration projects and the banning of the pesticide DDT are allowing eagles to flourish.
—Journal Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2024
For over 86 million years prior to that moment, birds with teeth thrived among the forests, floodplains and oceans of the Mesozoic world.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023
There is also a prohibition on building in the floodplain or modifying streams, including channelization.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'floodplain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near floodplain
Cite this Entry
“Floodplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodplain. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
floodplain
noun
flood·plain
-ˌplān
1
: low flat land along a stream or river that may flood
2
: a plain built up from earth left by floodwaters
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