noun
-
Also called: plumbery. the trade or work of a plumber
-
the pipes, fixtures, etc, used in a water, drainage, or gas installation
-
the act or procedure of using a plumb to gauge depth, a vertical, etc
Etymology
Origin of plumbing
Explanation
Indoor plumbing is what makes civilization great. Plumbing refers to the pipes that get the water in and the sewage out. If a snake shows up in the toilet, it probably came in through the plumbing. Yikes! You can use the noun plumbing whether you're talking about the bathroom sink, the pipes connected to your dishwasher, or the bathtub drain. A home's heating system often consists of plumbing too. The work of fixing or installing this type of system is also plumbing. The word's earliest meaning was "the weighting of a fishing line," from plumb, originally "to sink like lead," which has the Latin root plumba, or "lead."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He expanded Mullin Plumbing and ventured into a variety of other businesses, including opening a steakhouse in the town of Stilwell.
From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026
According to the California Plumbing Code, individual shower and tub showers are limited to reach a temperature of no higher than 120 degrees.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2025
Depher Community Plumbing and Heating CIC, founded by James Anderson, was investigated by the Fundraising Regulator following multiple complaints.
From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025
“There is no such thing as toilet police, right?” says Kerry Stackpole, CEO and executive director of Plumbing Manufacturers International, a trade group of plumbing product manufacturers.
From Slate • Feb. 25, 2025
Uncle Arthur examined the hole in the ceiling that Papa had made during the Great Plumbing Accident, shaking his head in disbelief.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
