septic tank

American  

[sep-tik tangk] / ˈsɛp tɪk ˌtæŋk /

noun

1. a tank, often underground, in which organic sewage is decomposed and purified by anaerobic bacteria.

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septic tank British  

noun

1. a tank, usually below ground, for containing sewage to be decomposed by anaerobic bacteria

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Etymology

Origin of septic tank

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

At one point, the cave faced a potential threat when someone attempted to develop the land and convert the cave into a septic tank.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

During one of our conversations, Carter choked up when he told of completing a house for a woman and her family who had been living in an abandoned septic tank.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2024

Just as the sink drains out, flush a nearby toilet to try to force all the water into the sewer or your septic tank.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 27, 2023

"Forget about money and survival, how will I tell my children that their father died while cleaning a septic tank?"

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2023

They stretched out in the middle of the road, flat on their backs, not wanting to miss anything should one of my celebrity friends decide to drop by and help me dig the septic tank.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• cesspool
• sewer