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

---

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."

Example Sentences

It was constantly refilling and making a hissing noise, so I asked a plumbing company to send someone over.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Of course, plumbing problems can be more complicated than they first appear.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

He’s been plumbing those emotional depths in his songs for nearly 26 years across seven critically acclaimed solo albums, and he’s back at it with his latest — and finest: “Never Be the Same.”

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026

I started doing plumbing level two... but I had to go to India so they kicked me out.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Was there a camera here somewhere, concealed in the maze of overhead plumbing, that could penetrate the fairy shield?

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Related Words

• housewares