drainage

American  

[drey-nij] / ˈdreɪ nɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or process of draining.

2. a system of drains, artificial or natural.

3. drainage basin.

4. something that is drained off.

5. Surgery. the drainage of fluids, as bile, urine, etc., from the body, or of pus and other diseased products from a wound.

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drainage British  

/ ˈdreɪnɪdʒ /

noun

1. the process or a method of draining

2. a system of watercourses or drains

3. liquid, sewage, etc, that is drained away

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Other Word Forms

• overdrainage
  noun

Etymology

Origin of drainage

First recorded in 1645–55; drain + -age

Example Sentences

Leonie Cooper, Labour London assembly member for Merton and Wandsworth and deputy chair of the environment committee urged residents to ensure drainage systems are correctly installed when carrying out work or buying property.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

"They needed to fix the drainage and not just paint it blue to make it look bright."

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

This year, attendees can sign up for free massages, red light therapy sessions, lymphatic drainage boots, and—thanks in part to a partnership with LEGO—partake in a series of analog “adult play” installations.

From Slate • May 8, 2026

On Thursday, firefighters said the phenomenon caused a smoldering fire in an underground PVC drainage pipe, as well as significant flames and smoke off the hillside, the fire department said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

However, hundreds of additional passages, utility shafts, train tracks, and drainage tubes form a multilevel maze.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• sewerage