power plant

American  

Or powerplant

noun

power plants plural

1. a plant, including engines, dynamos, etc., and the building or buildings necessary for the generation of power, as electric or nuclear power.

2. the machinery for supplying power for a particular mechanical process or operation.

3. the engine, motor, or other power source along with related ignition, transmission, etc., components of a vehicle, aircraft, machine, etc.

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power plant British  

noun

1. the complex, including machinery, associated equipment, and the structure housing it, that is used in the generation of power, esp electrical power

2. the equipment supplying power to a particular machine or for a particular operation or process

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• power plants
  plural

Etymology

Origin of power plant

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

power plant

In Romania, authorities set off an explosion beside a river in a bid to divert much-needed water to a power plant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

In Romania, one of the country's only two nuclear reactors has been shut down at the Cernavoda power plant, which provides about 20% of the country's power.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant -- the only nuclear power plant in the Philippines -- was completed in the 1980s but never launched due to corruption issues and safety concerns.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Explosions were also reported in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, and in Bushehr, home to Iran's only nuclear power plant.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

As the power plant is considered a critical water priority, Pete’s request for food and water had to be honored.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• power station
• station