flood control

American  

noun

Civil Engineering.

1. the act or technique of controlling river flow with dams, dikes, artificial channels, etc., so as to minimize the occurrence of floods.

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flood control British  

noun

1. the technique or practice of preventing or controlling floods with dams, artificial channels, etc

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Etymology

Origin of flood control

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flood control

River is primarily treated as a flood control channel, so park rangers carefully monitor for rain when the recreation zones open for leisure, like kayaking, during the summer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

Water-related investments include $232 million for flood control projects and nearly $70 million to support repairs to existing or new water conveyance projects.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works warned Angelenos to stay well away from waterways such as flood control channels, rivers, and streams -- even after the rain stopped.

From Barron's ● Dec. 25, 2025

The loss of tidal waters may have forced Sumerian communities to respond with large-scale irrigation and flood control systems -- innovations that defined Sumer's golden age.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2025

“We’re in the Prado flood control basin. Three rivers feed into here—or at least they used to. Take the left-most one.”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman