plumbing

noun

plumb·​ing ˈplə-miŋ How to pronounce plumbing (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The new two-story, 13,500-square-foot building has been vacant since The Finial hardware and plumbing store closed in June of 2022. Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025 Avoid electronics, plumbing and windows. Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 13 Oct. 2025 Those clients include a plumbing company in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a vacation rental company, according to Luna. Idaho Statesman, 13 Oct. 2025 Elsewhere, freeze warnings and frost advisories spanned parts of the Midwest and Northeast, where temperatures in the mid-20s and low 30s could lead to frost and freeze conditions capable of killing crops and other sensitive vegetation as well as damaging outdoor plumbing. MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plumbing

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plumbing was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumbing. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

plumbing

noun
plumb·​ing ˈpləm-iŋ How to pronounce plumbing (audio)
1
: a plumber's work
2
: a system of pipes for supplying and carrying off water in a building
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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