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plumbing

American  
[pluhm-ing] / ˈplʌm ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the system of pipes and other apparatus for conveying water, liquid wastes, etc., as in a building.

  2. the work or trade of a plumber.

  3. act of a person who plumbs, as in ascertaining depth.

plumbing British  
/ ˈplʌmɪŋ /

noun

  1. Also called: plumbery.  the trade or work of a plumber

  2. the pipes, fixtures, etc, used in a water, drainage, or gas installation

  3. the act or procedure of using a plumb to gauge depth, a vertical, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of plumbing

First recorded in 1660–70; plumb + -ing 1

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."

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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.

The actor claimed that the problems included “ongoing rodent issues” and having to make “repeated requests for repairs” for his bathroom and plumbing.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

But the platforms may still need help from Wall Street institutions, especially when it comes to the financial plumbing the facilitates trades across the world.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

I know that not everybody is interested in the precise form of plumbing by which they heat their home, but it's a topic I've become obsessed with.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

During his father’s absences, young Chuck spent part of his childhood in the home of his maternal grandmother in Wilson, Okla., where the family lacked indoor plumbing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

It still needs a roof and wiring, plumbing and floorboards, plus a lovely shade of paint.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

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.