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
When my wife and I moved into our Louisville Highlands house 27 years ago, the biggest challenge (aside from the bad plumbing, 1950s-era wiring, and drafty, old windows) was the soil.
—
Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024
One, a pill that blocks certain cells from accessing vitamin A, might be able to limit fertility without flooding the body with hormones; another is an injection that temporarily blocks up the reproductive plumbing.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Financial terms were not disclosed. - Littlejohn & Co. acquired United Air Temp, Air Conditioning and Heating, a Lorton, Va.-based provider of HVAC and plumbing services to residential homeowners.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
There are easy-to-follow instructions online for most homeowners to do the fixes themselves, but always feel free to call a professional if plumbing is outside your comfort zone.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Valley View’s plumbing system, for instance, is made up of clay and galvanized pipes, which are collapsing after more than seven decades of use.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2024
The depot just had $2,000 of plumbing work done at the end of February by Gene Wagner Plumbing Co. of West Allis.
—Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Thames Valley Detective Inspector Jess Milne said at the time that the toilet was connected to the palace’s plumbing system, so the theft caused damage and flooding.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
As noted by the scholars Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman in their recent book Underground Empire, the United States sits at the center of a vast informational plumbing system, built almost haphazardly over decades, that allows the global economy to function.
—Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024
Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024
One, a pill that blocks certain cells from accessing vitamin A, might be able to limit fertility without flooding the body with hormones; another is an injection that temporarily blocks up the reproductive plumbing.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
Financial terms were not disclosed. - Littlejohn & Co. acquired United Air Temp, Air Conditioning and Heating, a Lorton, Va.-based provider of HVAC and plumbing services to residential homeowners.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
There are easy-to-follow instructions online for most homeowners to do the fixes themselves, but always feel free to call a professional if plumbing is outside your comfort zone.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Valley View’s plumbing system, for instance, is made up of clay and galvanized pipes, which are collapsing after more than seven decades of use.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2024
The depot just had $2,000 of plumbing work done at the end of February by Gene Wagner Plumbing Co. of West Allis.
—Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Thames Valley Detective Inspector Jess Milne said at the time that the toilet was connected to the palace’s plumbing system, so the theft caused damage and flooding.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
As noted by the scholars Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman in their recent book Underground Empire, the United States sits at the center of a vast informational plumbing system, built almost haphazardly over decades, that allows the global economy to function.
—Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plumbing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near plumbing
Cite this Entry
“Plumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumbing. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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