floodplain

noun

flood·​plain ˈfləd-ˌplān How to pronounce floodplain (audio)
Synonyms of floodplainnext
1
: level land that may be submerged by floodwaters
2
: a plain built up by stream deposition

Examples of floodplain 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.
As Reclamation District 108 leaves some fields dry, the goal will be to move a levee back so the river can spread out, restoring a natural floodplain, Bair said. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 He was soon replaced by Dobrovolny, the former state floodplain coordinator who had helped direct work at the track. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 Old channels linger as soft depressions across the floodplain, now filled with bog vegetation in muted shades of yellow, green, and brown—living traces of flowing water long since gone. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Protecting wetlands, floodplains and mature tree canopy is not simply about appearance. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for floodplain

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of floodplain was in 1873

Rhymes for floodplain

See All Rhymes for floodplain

Browse Nearby Words

floodometer
floodplain
flood stage
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Cite this Entry

“Floodplain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floodplain. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

floodplain

noun
flood·​plain -ˌplān How to pronounce floodplain (audio)
1
: low flat land along a stream or river that may flood
2
: a plain built up from earth left by floodwaters

More from Merriam-Webster on floodplain

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for floodplain

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about floodplain

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