plumbing

noun

plumb·​ing ˈplə-miŋ 

1

: the act of using a plumb

2

: a plumber's occupation or trade

3

a

: the apparatus (such as pipes and fixtures) concerned in the distribution and use of water in a building

b

: an internal system that resembles plumbing

especially : one consisting of conduits or channels for conveying fluids

Examples of plumbing in a Sentence

The house has old plumbing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Repairs + Replace Plan HVAC, electrical, plumbing, kitchen and laundry; $1,500 HVAC limit, $1,000 plumbing limit, $2,000 kitchen and laundry limit, $10 per pound for refrigerant. —Caroline Ernst, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026

The musician and fashion mogul began the process of demolishing the architectural gem, completely stripping its electricity, plumbing, bathrooms, and windows. —India Roby, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026

Your first actual job was… Working in my family’s plumbing and lighting business. —Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2026

Durham hopes to expand the district’s technical education programs, including in HVAC repair and plumbing, in order to attract more students. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plumbing

• indoor plumbing
• plumbing fixture

Rhymes for plumbing

• coming
• cumming
• drumming
• gumming
• humming
• numbing
• strumming
• summing
• thrumming
• thumbing
• becoming
• forthcoming

Kids Definition

plumbing

noun

plumb·​ing ˈpləm-iŋ 

1

: a plumber's work

2

: a system of pipes for supplying and carrying off water in a building