noun
-
the act or process of seeping
-
liquid or moisture that has seeped
Etymology
Origin of seepage
Explanation
When liquid or gas slowly leaks through tiny holes or gaps in a container or barrier, it's called seepage. The seepage of rain water through the foundation of your house can result in a very damp basement. Seepage is the process of something seeping, or leaking extremely slowly. You usually can't see seepage happening, the way you'd observe a leak from a faucet. Water seepage from an upstairs bathroom can gradually stain the ceiling of the room below, and the seepage of gas from your stove can be very dangerous to breathe. We can trace this word back to a root meaning "to pour out, drip, or trickle."
Vocabulary lists containing seepage
The Water Cycle - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Earth Science - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Water Cycle - Middle School and High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
For centuries, Lake Maracaibo’s environs were known for natural seepage of oil rising to the surface from sedimentary rock, a phenomenon also seen in sites like Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026
The science shows the pollution problem in Lough Neagh comes largely from agriculture, with some from wastewater processing, septic tank seepage and industrial pollution around the shores.
From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025
The samples are more characteristic of “freshly produced” oil typical of natural seepage, according to officials.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2024
“It could be natural seepage, it could have been a discharge. We’re not sure.”
From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2024
In the past half century, the governments of China and North Korea have cooperatively used their security forces to make sure that the intermittent seepage of Koreans across the border never turns into a flood.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
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.
