irrigation

noun

ir·​ri·​ga·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce irrigation (audio)
1
: the watering of land by artificial means to foster plant growth
2
: the therapeutic flushing of a body part with a stream of liquid

Examples of irrigation 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.
This kaleidoscopic introduction recalls the work of Percival Lowell, a 19th-century astronomer name-dropped in passing, who claimed to have discovered advanced irrigation on the red planet by way of telescopic observation. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 But hurdles include investments in everything from fertilizer to irrigation and reliable transport. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Elworthy suggests watering twice per week, making sure the lawn gets a half inch per irrigation session. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026 The tribe holds some of the river’s oldest rights, and while its Arizona allocation is huge, an old irrigation system and the lack of infrastructure have kept much of the water out of reach. — Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for irrigation

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of irrigation was in 1612

Rhymes for irrigation

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Browse Nearby Words

irrigate
irrigation
irrigational
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Cite this Entry

“Irrigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irrigation. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

irrigation

noun
ir·​ri·​ga·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce irrigation (audio)
: an act or process of irrigating

More from Merriam-Webster on irrigation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about irrigation

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