manhole

American  

[man-hohl] / ˈmænˌhoʊl /

noun

1. a hole, usually with a cover, through which a person may enter a sewer, drain, steam boiler, etc., especially one located in a city street.

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manhole British  

/ ˈmænˌhəʊl /

noun

1. Also called: inspection chamber.  a shaft with a removable cover that leads down to a sewer or drain

2. a hole, usually with a detachable cover, through which a man can enter a boiler, tank, etc

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Etymology

Origin of manhole

First recorded in 1785–95; man + hole

Explanation

A manhole is an opening in a street or sidewalk that gives workers access to underground pipes, drains, power lines, and cables. A manhole usually has a heavy metal cover — which can go shooting up in the air in the case of an underground explosion. Steer clear of smoking manholes! Inside a manhole, there are steps or a ladder leading down to the space underneath the street. Utility workers need access to this underground area to make repairs or updates to services. From above, a manhole simply looks like a metal circle in the pavement. The word manhole (which sounds a little dated, since plenty of utility workers are women) was coined in the late 18th century.

Example Sentences

A petition to drop criminal charges against Bradshaw gained about 2,200 signatures and a friend is selling T-shirts calling him the Manhole Michelangelo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

There is now a Japan Society for Manhole Covers that claims there are 6,000 different designs.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2023

Manhole covers, coalhole covers and drain covers all offer access to an underground world that, if not exactly thrilling, is at least full of artistry, history and in many cases, beauty.

From BBC • May 14, 2021

Manhole covers were soldered shut to make sure no bad guys could spring from the sewers.

From Time • Mar. 12, 2011

Manhole covers are, of course, technological artifacts, access-points to our buried urban infrastructure.

From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Sterling, Bruce