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Definition of manhole

manhole

/ˈmæn.hoʊl/
man · hole
Plural:manholes
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manhole Lexical Profile

manhole Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A covered opening in a paved area, street, or sidewalk that allows a worker to access an underground sewer, utility vault, or drainage system.

Example

"The city utility workers carefully removed the heavy iron cover from the manhole to inspect the subterranean water lines."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for manhole

Word Nuance & Usage

In recent years, many municipalities and urban planners have adopted gender-neutral terms such as 'maintenance hole' or 'utility hole' in official documents in place of 'manhole'.

• Nearby Words

manhandle
manhater
manhattan
manhole
manhood
manhunt
manhunter

Word Origin & Etymology

Originated in the mid 19th century from combining 'man' and 'hole', denoting an opening large enough for a person to pass through to access underground utility structures.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Manhole. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/manhole
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