plumber

noun

plumb·​er ˈplə-mər 

1

: a dealer or worker in lead

2

: one who installs, repairs, and maintains piping, fittings, and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in a building

3

: a person whose job is to prevent or put an end to leaks of sensitive information

Examples of plumber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At age 90, the University of Chicago emeritus professor stood demurely before an audience of local teachers, plumbers, children and housewives explaining complex diagrams and math equations on an overhead projector. —Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025

Pipe installation involved work by a licensed plumber, which endeared the mayor to a large, powerful union. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025

Repairman Reacts To Dog Using Button By Darlin Tillery Life & Trends Reporter 1 A homeowner was left stunned after a plumber attempted to charge nearly $1,000 for a repair that eventually took just five minutes and required a $14 part. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

At the time, Mr. Christmann, who lives in New York City, had worked as a plumber and an activist journalist and had run for public office in New York. —Alan Feuer, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French plummer, plomner, from Latin plumbarius, from plumbum

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plumber

• plumber's helper
• plumber's snake

Kids Definition

plumber

noun

plumb·​er ˈpləm-ər 

: a person who puts in or repairs the pipes and fixtures involved in the distribution and use of water in a building