sewer

1 of 3

noun (1)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
Synonyms of sewernext
: a medieval household officer often of high rank in charge of serving the dishes at table and sometimes of seating and tasting

sewer

2 of 3

noun (2)

sew·​er ˈsō-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

3 of 3

noun (3)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
: an artificial usually subterranean conduit to carry off sewage and sometimes surface water (as from rainfall)

Synonyms of sewer

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Noun (2)

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Examples of sewer in a Sentence

Noun (2) a good sewer who designs her own clothing
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Although the water wouldn’t start flowing until 2029, the sewer district said this plan will translate to savings for its customers in the long run. — Noah Daly august 2, Idaho Statesman, 2 Aug. 2026 With the city hall's toilets out of order, officials erected emergency toilets over sewer manholes outside the building, in temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) and stifling humidity. — USA Today, 30 July 2026 Fire officials said the worker was found in the storm sewer near Washington Street and was pronounced dead. — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 30 July 2026 While the city auditor recommended a revenue increase of 82% and 186% for water and sewer respectively, the Department of Utilities determined that this rate increase would be too burdensome to residents. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sewer

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French asseour, literally, seater, from Anglo-French asseer to seat — more at assize

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from assewer, essiver to drain, from Vulgar Latin *exaquare, from Latin ex- + aqua water — more at island

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sewer was in the 14th century

Rhymes for sewer

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Browse Nearby Words

sewen
sewer
sewerage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sewer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sewer. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sewer

1 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsō(-ə)r How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

2 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇(-ə)r
: a usually covered drain to carry off water and sewage

More from Merriam-Webster on sewer

Nglish: Translation of sewer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sewer

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