catchment

American  

[kach-muhnt] / ˈkætʃ mənt /

noun

1. the act of catching catch water.

2. something for catching catch water, as a reservoir or basin.

3. the water that is caught catch in such a catchment.

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catchment British  

/ ˈkætʃmənt /

noun

1. the act of catching or collecting water

2. a structure in which water is collected

3. the water so collected

4. the intake of a school from one catchment area

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Etymology

Origin of catchment

First recorded in 1840–50; catch + -ment

Example Sentences

A report said parents and carers within the catchment appeared to have preferred to enrol their children at other nearby schools.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

By the end of the DWT trial, an estimated 15 family groups lived along the catchment.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Residents with low incomes in the Tandridge District Council catchment area can request a grant to help with living costs from 10:00 GMT on Monday.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

The issue has been hugely controversial along the River Wye in recent years, with as many as 23 million chickens - a quarter of the UK's poultry production - raised in the river's catchment area.

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2025

“For one ting, we mils’ make another catchment ... an' we mus’ go to d reef for food . . . an' .

From "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor