Plummer or Plumber – Which Spelling Is Correct?

Imagine a pipe in your house is clogged and you need to call for help. Do you search for a “Plummer” or a “Plumber”?

Words with the same pronunciation, but different spellings, can make it a tricky task to know for sure which form is the correct one.

Plummer or Plumber – Which Spelling Is Correct?

“Plummer” and “Plumber” are words with completely different meanings. “Plumber” is how we name the professional who repairs pipes, baths, toilets, etc. “Plummer” is the comparative form of the word “Plum”, which means a few things, including the small fruit that’s red on the outside and yellow on the inside.

Take a look at the examples below:

• I had to call the plumber in the middle of the night, to help me with the leak.
• I had to call the plummer in the middle of the night, to help me with the leak. (incorrect)

• Faira’s face was plum when she saw Josh, but his face was even plummer.
• Faira’s face was plum when she saw Josh, but his face was even plumber. (incorrect)

Each set of examples shows one of the words being used properly. The first set talks about a leak, and the need for a professional who could repair it. In this case, a “Plumber” was needed, and using the word “Plummer” makes no sense.

In the second set, Josh’s face blushed more than Faira’s. We used the word “Plum” to describe her face, and as a comparison, we used “Plummer” to describe Josh’s. In this case, the word that wouldn’t fit is “Plumber”.

Plummer

“Plummer” is a difficult word to use, but it isn’t unacceptable. “Plummer” indicates the comparative form of “Plum”, which relates to the fruit, but also to something very good and worth having. “Plum” also indicates a color, and “Plummer” would work as the comparative form in all of those instances.

The Cambridge Dictionary acknowledges “Plummer” as the comparative form of the word “Plum”.

Let’s go over some examples that show the word “Plummer” being correctly used.

1. The flowers in the garden look even plummer this year.
2. The plum color of the flowers in the garden looks even brighter this year.

3. I thought my job was good, but yours is plummer.
4. I thought my job was good, but yours is better.

5. The plummer the color is, the better the wall will look.
6. The darker the plum shade is, the better the wall will look.

The sentences in the examples show the word “Plummer” being used as a comparative of “Plum”. In that context, sentences 1, 3, and 5 are correct.

However, we offered altered versions of the same sentence, to reflect a more organic approach to them. As you can tell, sentences 2, 4, and 6 present the same meaning as 1, 3, and 5, but in a much easier way – that most people would feel more comfortable using.

That’s to say that although “Plummer” is a correct form of the comparative of “Plum”, it might not be the preferred word for one to use.

Plumber

A “Plumber” is someone whose job is to supply, connect, and repair water pipes and devices.

That’s the definition found in The Cambridge Dictionary, and we think is the simplest one we could find.

Take a look at some examples below:

1. The plumber wore a blue uniform.
2. Is the plumber coming to repair the burst pipe?
3. The plumber is going to restore the water to the house.
4. The plumber who came to the house was a very sweet woman.
5. Make sure you’re calling a licensed plumber.

Which Is Used the Most?

Considering those two words mean completely different things, they aren’t comparable. Still, we’re curious to find out which one is used more often, “Plummer” or “Plumber”. Take a look at the graph from Google Ngram Viewer below.

Both words are used almost with the same frequency. Although they’ve oscillated a little over the years and are seeing an overall decrease in usage, it’s interesting to notice they followed the same trend all along.

Final Thoughts

“Plummer” and “Plumber” aren’t synonyms but are valid words. “Plumber” is the professional who fixes our pipes when we have issues at home or awork. “Plummer” is the comparative form of the word “Plum”, which means a few things, including the fruit and the color known by this name.