sinkage

noun

sink·​age ˈsiŋ-kij How to pronounce sinkage (audio)
1
2
: the process or degree of sinking
3
: the distance from the top line of a full page to the first line of lowered matter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Again, a memory foam mattress can fit the bill as well as a hybrid mattress, but bear in mind that foam mattresses tend to be on the softer side (making uncomfortable sinkage a risk). Sara Coughlin, SELF, 27 June 2022 The sinkage and erosion that result are not good news for the many roads and pipelines used by oil and gas industry workers up there. Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Jan. 2022 That plan also calls for a series of 36 inch casings, or holes, to be drilled below ground as sheaths for the piles, but doing so previously resulted in sinkage and the work was paused in August. Chase Difeliciantonio, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Oct. 2021 This sinkage can burst pipes, crack foundations, and destroy roads, so engineers study the composition of potential landfill development sites to assess future stability and to develop designs that can account for settlement. Dylan Taylor-lehman, Popular Mechanics, 29 July 2021 Differential sinkage is a constant concern for developers. Dylan Taylor-lehman, Popular Mechanics, 29 July 2021 Essentially, this causes the ground to cave in on itself, causing the sinkage seen over time in a place like Corcoran. Andy Meek, BGR, 29 May 2021 The bowl is the region of deep sinkage in the land, with Corcoran at the center — a sinkhole at a snail’s pace. New York Times, 25 May 2021 Built from high-density memory foam, this topper also helps alleviate body aches by supporting pressure points and preventing too much sinkage. Joanna Sciarrino, Forbes, 28 Apr. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sinkage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of sinkage was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near sinkage

Cite this Entry

“Sinkage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinkage. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

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