Definition of floodplain
1 : level land that may be submerged by floodwaters
2 : a plain built up by stream deposition
Explore Merriam-Webster
Recent Examples of floodplain from the Web
-
Even Tulsa, Oklahoma, home of Sen. James Inhofe, who calls global warming a hoax, has moved over 12,000 homes and businesses from a floodplain.
-
Donian Park is a four acre open space site which encompasses a wetland and the 100 year recurrence interval floodplain along the White River in downtown Lake Geneva.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'floodplain'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1873
First Known Use of floodplain
1873
FLOODPLAIN Defined for English Language Learners
floodplain
playDefinition of floodplain for English Language Learners
-
: an area of low, flat land along a stream or river that may flood
-
: an area of land built up from soil left by floods
FLOODPLAIN Defined for Kids
floodplain
playDefinition of floodplain for Students
: low flat land along a stream that is flooded when the stream overflows
Learn More about floodplain
-
See words that rhyme with floodplain Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about floodplain
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up floodplain? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!