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. plumber.

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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of plumbing

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

Example Sentences

The family lived in a one-story house with a tin roof, a wood stove and no indoor plumbing.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. has framed the initiative as an incremental modernization of post-trade plumbing rather than a wholesale rewrite of market structure, with an initial rollout targeted for the second half of 2026.

From MarketWatch

The ballot will be for about 1,000 members of staff who are part of Unite the Union, mainly involved in housing maintenance work, like plumbing and heating engineering.

From BBC

And even if the residents are allowed to return, they wouldn’t be able to build new homes until the owners fix or replace damaged foundations and hookups for electricity and plumbing.

From Los Angeles Times

Hiring, he said, has become more difficult for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades because of retirements and immigration policy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• housewares