floodplain

noun

flood·​plain ˈfləd-ˌplān How to pronounce floodplain (audio)
Synonyms of floodplainnext
1
: level land that may be submerged by floodwaters
2
: a plain built up by stream deposition

Examples of floodplain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Suen encourages residents in flood-prone areas to still have an emergency preparedness kit ready, along with knowing their flood risk and looking at FEMA floodplain maps for their families. Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026 The team installed beaver-style dams across the Cache la Poudre and Willow Creek watersheds — both burned in the 2020 wildfires — to help slow water flow and instead spread the water over a floodplain. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025 Roads, railways, factories and ports expanded into floodplains. Farshid Vahedifard, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025 Miami-Dade County also maintains its own interactive flood zone maps and floodplain management resources, which can provide additional local detail. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for floodplain

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of floodplain was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Floodplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodplain. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

floodplain

noun
flood·​plain -ˌplān How to pronounce floodplain (audio)
1
: low flat land along a stream or river that may flood
2
: a plain built up from earth left by floodwaters

More from Merriam-Webster on floodplain

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!