cesspool

UK: /ˈsɛspuːl/ US: /ˈsɛsˌpul/ ,(ses′po̅o̅l′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cess•pool /ˈsɛsˌpul/   n. [countable]

1. Building an underground container for receiving the waste from a house.
2. a place of filth or immorality.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cess•pool  (ses′po̅o̅l′), n. 

1. Building a cistern, well, or pit for retaining the sediment of a drain or for receiving the sewage from a house.
2. any filthy receptacle or place.
3. any place of moral filth or immorality:
   a cesspool of iniquity.

• Latin rēcessus recess, place of retirement) + pool¹
• Italian cesso privy
• cess (1575–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cesspool / ˈsɛsˌpuːl/, cesspit / ˈsɛsˌpɪt/ noun

1. Also called: sink, sump a covered cistern, etc, for collecting and storing sewage or waste water
2. a filthy or corrupt place: a cesspool of iniquity

Etymology: 17th Century: changed (through influence of pool¹) from earlier cesperalle, from Old French souspirail vent, air, from soupirer to sigh; see suspire