cleanliness

American  

[klen-lee-nis] / ˈklɛn li nɪs /

noun

1. the quality, state, or habit of being cleanly, or keeping oneself clean and neat.

   personal cleanliness.

2. the quality, state, or habit of being kept clean, as a place or object.

   the cleanliness of the restaurant.

3. the state or quality of being morally pure or upright.

   spiritual cleanliness.

---

Etymology

Origin of cleanliness

First recorded in 1425–75; Middle English clenlynesse, clenlines , see origin at cleanly ( def. ), -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Cleanliness is a habit of staying neat and tidy, or sterile. Cleanliness in your bedroom is nice, but cleanliness in a hospital operating room is critical. If your friend remarks on the cleanliness of your locker, it's probably because of your thoughtful, color-coordinated organizational system. And if that same friend questions the cleanliness of your socks, it's probably because your feet smell terrible. Cleric John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, is famous for the line, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness," implying that how clean or dirty you are is a reflection of your moral character.

Example Sentences

Cleanliness and cleaning up after oneself in public places is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

To this day, all orders are custom-made and nothing is frozen, a practice that stays true to the founding couple’s promise of “Quality, Cleanliness and Service.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

A chance meeting with a retired bureaucrat in the early 1990s helped formalize his Campaign of the Cleanliness Workers movement, leading to both donations and volunteers.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2024

They formed a group last year, called the Situ Gede Cleanliness Warrior, named after the lake.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2023

Cleanliness was a priority, as was ample space for marching, which he practiced regularly and often.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

• freshness
• purity
• sanitation