sewage

noun

sew·​age ˈsü-ij How to pronounce sewage (audio)
Synonyms of sewagenext
: refuse liquids or waste matter usually carried off by sewers

Examples of sewage 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.
Wastewater tracking is the testing of community sewage for viruses and other germs to help health officials monitor disease spread and trends, often before cases show up in clinical testing data. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 The city later vowed to make emergency repairs to restore power and clean up buildings flooded with sewage. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 That was on top of sewage problems on the ship that left its crew unable to use its toilets. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Notable Mounds of garbage, potholed roads and sewage spills have pushed some voters to abandon their loyalty to the ANC, writes journalist Evaton West for AFP. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sewage

Word History

Etymology

sewer entry 1

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sewage was in 1834

Phrases Containing sewage

Browse Nearby Words

sew
sewage
sewage disposal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sewage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sewage. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sewage

noun
sew·​age ˈsü-ij How to pronounce sewage (audio)
: waste materials carried off by sewers

Medical Definition

sewage

noun
sew·​age ˈsü-ij How to pronounce sewage (audio)
: refuse liquids or waste matter carried off by sewers

More from Merriam-Webster on sewage

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sewage

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