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

One potential downside is that there's no bathroom in there, which could have been a useful addition for working away, though, of course, skipping plumbing entirely helps keep the cost down. —New Atlas, 24 Nov. 2025

The walls are also soundproof, offering privacy between rooms, and the structure comes fully equipped with electricity and plumbing. —Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025

The plastic doesn’t always dissolve well and can cause clogs in your plumbing. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025

There was a lot of plumbing under the skin to try and keep me cool. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Nov. 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