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

Residents are urged to take precautions including bringing pets indoors or providing warm, dry shelter, and preparing home plumbing systems for the cold. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

That transformation demands new plumbing, or new global rules. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025

The front door was rusty and the old plumbing in the odorous bathroom had to handle a lot of vomit. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025

The layout of the home can be altered to include up to three bedrooms, a spacious living room and kitchen, as well as a full bathroom complete with electricity and plumbing. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025

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