Definition of plumber
1 : a dealer or worker in lead
2 : one who installs, repairs, and maintains piping, fittings, and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in a building
3 : a person whose job is to prevent or put an end to leaks of sensitive information
Read the Latest from M-W
Recent Examples of plumber from the Web
-
In addtion, another individual, Thomas J. Durkin, the general foreman of plumbers, was also cited in the report as jumping in on the anti-black emails while also throwing in some anti-Muslim references.
-
One time, Joe, a plumber, went to work with blue makeup clinging around his eyes and ears.
-
This free training is offered to contractors, renovators, painters, window installers, maintenance staff, electricians, HVAC specialists, plumbers, floor finishers and other professionals.
-
Men are also typically the engineers who design and build public infrastructure, like schools and parks, and the plumbers responding to maintenance requests.
-
His father was a plumber and building contractor who eventually bought the Hotel Wales on the Upper East Side, and his mother helped manage the property.
-
Thus was born Sonic, a speed demon hedgehog who embodies everything the ebullient Italian plumber isn't.
-
There was even a middleman, Robert Faiella, a plumber in Florida who had a sideline obtaining Bitcoins for Silk Road users.
-
Workers aren’t necessarily licensed plumbers or electricians, though Evans said each fixer has the ability to tackle basic tasks along those lines.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plumber.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of plumber
Middle English, from Anglo-French plummer, plomner, from Latin plumbarius, from plumbum
PLUMBER Defined for English Language Learners
plumber
playDefinition of plumber for English Language Learners
-
: a person whose job is to install or repair sinks, toilets, water pipes, etc.
PLUMBER Defined for Kids
plumber
playDefinition of plumber for Students
: a person who installs or repairs plumbing
History for plumber
The word plumber originally meant “person who works with lead.” It comes from a Latin word plumbarius with the same meaning, which is derived from plumbum, “lead.” In the past water pipes in buildings were often made of lead. The plumbers who put in these pipes and took care of them were workers in lead.
Learn More about plumber
-
See words that rhyme with plumber Spanish Central: Translation of plumber Nglish: Translation of plumber for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of plumber for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up plumber? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!