Word
catchment
Phoneticscatch·ment, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkætʃmənt/
UK/kˈætʃmənt/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the specific area where a school gets its students or a hospital gets its patients. It can also mean the area of land where all the rain collects into one river or lake.
n. the geographical area served by a specific institution, such as a school or hospital; also the entire land area that drains into a particular watercourse or reservoir.
Examples
“We moved house to be inside the school's catchment area.”
“The new regional hospital has a vast catchment that includes several remote rural villages and two small towns.”
“Heavy industrial runoff from the upper catchment has significantly degraded the water quality of the estuary, impacting local fishing industries and biodiversity.”
Examples
simple
“We moved house to be inside the school's catchment area.”
contextual
“The new regional hospital has a vast catchment that includes several remote rural villages and two small towns.”
complex
“Heavy industrial runoff from the upper catchment has significantly degraded the water quality of the estuary, impacting local fishing industries and biodiversity.”
Usage
Often used in the compound phrase 'catchment area' when referring to social services or education.
Real-World Examples
“According to MacDonnell, the school’s open catchment area made it attractive to those living outside Soho but working in the area, commuting from outer London boroughs such as Hounslow.” “The researchers investigated two lake catchment systems, Lake Mapourika and Lake Paringa, along New Zealand's Alpine Fault.” Etymology
From catch + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/catchment