irrigation

noun

ir·​ri·​ga·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən 

1

: the watering of land by artificial means to foster plant growth

2

: the therapeutic flushing of a body part with a stream of liquid

Examples of irrigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Because water usage is generally lower during the winter and spring, some residents may not have noticed the increase until irrigation systems were turned on and households moved into higher usage tiers. — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

If a heatwave is forecast, irrigation can be adjusted before stress peaks. — Gaby Miodownik, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026

The Villas of Almaden is spending $100,000 to replace turf around 180 homes with water-efficient landscaping and upgrading its irrigation system, which dates back to the 1980s, to a high-tech system with weather sensors. — Paul Rogers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

In Delta County, depleted reservoirs have caused irrigation canals to dry up, leaving orchards like Ela’s without any water. — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for irrigation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

irrigation

noun

ir·​ri·​ga·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən 

: an act or process of irrigating