# plumber

/ˈpɫəmɝ/ (US) · /plˈʌmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/plumber
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. water/pipe worker

noun · CEFR A2

a person whose job is to install and repair water pipes, sinks, and toilets.

For teachers: a tradesperson who installs, repairs, and maintains piping, fittings, and fixtures for water, gas, or drainage systems.

- We had to call a plumber when the pipe under the kitchen sink started leaking.
- The master plumber spent the afternoon rerouting the copper pipes to accommodate the new bathroom installation in the basement.

### 2. investigator of leaks

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who works to find out who is giving secret information to the public.

For teachers: a person, often within a political or corporate organization, tasked with identifying and stopping the source of unauthorized information leaks.

- The government hired a team of plumbers to find out who leaked the secret documents.
- Following the publication of the classified report, the administration established a unit of 'plumbers' to trace the digital footprint of the whistleblower.

Teaching tip: This sense became famous during the Watergate scandal in the US; it is rarely used for everyday corporate leaks now.

### 3. urologist

noun · CEFR C2 · Humorous · Slang · Informal

a doctor who treats problems with the parts of the body that handle urine.

For teachers: a humorous or derogatory reference to a urologist, comparing the human urinary system to household plumbing.

- He joked that he had an appointment with the plumber to check his bladder.
- The medical students jokingly referred to the urology department as the 'plumbers' wing' due to the nature of the surgical procedures performed there.

Teaching tip: This is medical slang and can be seen as disrespectful; learners should avoid using it in a professional medical setting.

### 4. to install pipes

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to put water pipes and systems into a building.

For teachers: to equip a structure with a system of pipes and fixtures for water or sewage.

- It took the crew three days to plumber the entire new house.
- The contractor hired a specialist to plumber the industrial kitchen according to the strict local health codes.

Usage: Often used as 'to plumber something' or 'to plumber in'.

## Examples

- The plumber fixed the leaking pipe in the kitchen.
- We had to call an emergency plumber late at night when the bathroom pipe suddenly burst.
- After the inspection revealed significant corrosion in the main line, the plumber recommended replacing the entire copper network to prevent future structural damage to the property.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.