plumber
Americannoun
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a person who installs and repairs piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with the water supply, drainage systems, etc., both in and out of buildings.
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Slang. an undercover operative or spy hired to detect or stop leaks of news or secret information, often using questionable or illegal methods, as illegal entry or wiretapping.
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Obsolete. a worker in lead or similar metals.
noun
Etymology
Origin of plumber
1375–1425; 1965–70 plumber for def. 2; late Middle English, spelling variant of Middle English plowber ≪ Late Latin plumbārius leadworker; replacing Middle English plummer < Anglo-French; Old French plummier < Latin, as above. See plumb, -er 2
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.
Everybody’s favorite fearless and super capable princess is back for another adventure — along with the denizens of her kingdom and a pair of New York plumber brothers — in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
As a manager or teacher or plumber or data analyst, you will be using different skills to do the same thing: communicate effectively, lead with confidence and, ultimately, anticipate and solve problems.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026
Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber, won the Gorton and Denton seat comfortably to become the Greens' fifth sitting MP in the 650-seat British parliament.
From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026
Spencer worked as a plumber after leaving education aged 16, and started 2026 with the ambition of "new year, new trade".
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
“He says I was supposed to marry a plumber and have five kids. I told him, ‘Uh-uh, I don’t think so!’
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
