sewer

1 of 3

noun (1)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
Synonyms of sewernext
: a medieval household officer often of high rank in charge of serving the dishes at table and sometimes of seating and tasting

sewer

2 of 3

noun (2)

sew·​er ˈsō-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

3 of 3

noun (3)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
: an artificial usually subterranean conduit to carry off sewage and sometimes surface water (as from rainfall)

Examples of sewer in a Sentence

Noun (2) a good sewer who designs her own clothing
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.
Noun
In plans initially submitted to Collin County officials in late 2025, the developer stated that the Double R district would provide sewer services to the site. Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026 That outlaws modifications to the home itself, including extra parking or sewer capacity, fire sprinklers, additional entrances or exits, or upgrades to meet current building codes. Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026 Around the same time, a federal investigation into water quality in Biscayne Bay turned up alarming levels of pollution, likely fed by small sewer-treatment plants that at the time served the county. Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026 Baltimore’s efforts are reducing sewer overflows but take time and must be balanced with cost, according to city’s Department of Public Works. ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sewer

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French asseour, literally, seater, from Anglo-French asseer to seat — more at assize

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from assewer, essiver to drain, from Vulgar Latin *exaquare, from Latin ex- + aqua water — more at island

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sewer was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sewer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sewer. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

sewer

1 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsō(-ə)r How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

2 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇(-ə)r
: a usually covered drain to carry off water and sewage

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