cleanliness

noun

clean·​li·​ness ˈklen-lē-nəs How to pronounce cleanliness (audio)
: the quality or state of being clean : the practice of keeping oneself or one's surroundings clean
Though a stale remark, it can hardly be said too often, that personal cleanliness is one of the necessary agents to health …Walt Whitman
The Romans spent hours at their elaborate bathhouse complexes, but not everyone equated cleanliness with virtue …Sara Ivry
This cleanliness is necessary to ensure that no dust or particles end up on the silicon surface during the processing of the chip.Robert J. Cone

Examples of cleanliness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The nation’s peculiar association between cleanliness and godliness, imported by Puritans and Quakers centuries ago, helped personal odor become a particularly strong signifier of moral, physical, and racial purity in the US early in the nation’s history, writes anthropologist Marybeth MacPhee. Keren Landman, Vox, 20 May 2024 This includes the accuracy of their food order, the quality and reliability of the chain's mobile app, the quality of the food and food options, the cleanliness of the restaurant's dining room and more. The Week Staff, theweek, 13 May 2024 There is a lack of cleanliness and safety measures, Sheffield said, and complex managers are slow to respond to complaints. Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024 The survey found the share of residents satisfied with the cleanliness of their neighborhood dropped 13 points since 2017 (to 34%); the share content with garbage pickup slipped 9 points (to 57%); and the share satisfied with rat control fell 18 points (to 27%). Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cleanliness 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cleanliness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cleanliness was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cleanliness

Cite this Entry

“Cleanliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanliness. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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