seepage

noun

seep·​age ˈsē-pij How to pronounce seepage (audio)
1
: the process of seeping : oozing
2
: a quantity of fluid that has seeped (as through porous material)

Examples of seepage in a Sentence

Check for seepage in the basement.
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.
Expansive tracts of upland pine and hardwood forests frame the trails, while the seepage slopes host carnivorous pitcher plants, terrestrial orchids, and other rare species. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026 For centuries, Lake Maracaibo’s environs were known for natural seepage of oil rising to the surface from sedimentary rock, a phenomenon also seen in sites like Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026 Previous spills in Flint River The headwaters of the Flint River, which flows south all the way to Florida, begin from seepage around the area of the Atlanta airport, meaning any contaminants from that area can reach the river more easily. Irene Wright, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026 The 75-year-old levee had multiple failures in recent days, from seepage and water overtopping it to a partial collapse at one home, county officials said. Steven Rosenfeld, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seepage

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of seepage was circa 1825

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seepage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seepage. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

seepage

noun
seep·​age ˈsē-pij How to pronounce seepage (audio)
1
: the process of seeping
2
: a quantity of fluid that has seeped through something

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