- comparative of clean.
cleaner
Americannoun
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a person who cleans, especially one whose regular occupation is cleaning offices, buildings, equipment, etc.
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an apparatus or machine for cleaning, as a vacuum cleaner.
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a preparation for use in cleaning, as a detergent or chemical bleach.
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the owner or operator of a dry-cleaning establishment.
The cleaner said he couldn't get the spot off my coat.
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Usually cleaners. a dry-cleaning establishment.
My suit is at the cleaners.
idioms
noun
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a person, device, chemical agent, etc, that removes dirt, as from clothes or carpets
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(usually plural) a shop, etc that provides a dry-cleaning service
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informal to rob or defraud a person of all of his money
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of cleaner
First recorded in 1425–75, cleaner is from the late Middle English word clener. See clean, -er 1
Explanation
A cleaner is either a person whose job involves tidying and disinfecting, or it's a substance used to do that work, like soap. If the cleaner runs out of window cleaner, they might try using vinegar. Professional cleaners might work in people's homes, in which case you might call them housekeepers, or they might work in office buildings, on work sites, or really anywhere that needs to be cleaned. Some cleaners (like dry cleaners) clean clothing and other textiles. Being a cleaner is hard work — and if you've ever watched workers suspended on scaffolding using big squeegees to clean skyscraper windows, you know that it can be thrilling work, too.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Once Poland's black gold, the sector is now surviving only on life support as the country slowly transitions to cleaner energy sources.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Because the ultra fine bubbles vanish after drying, the researchers believe their method could provide a cleaner, more precise way to produce next generation microdevices without the drawbacks of conventional ink additives.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
Squeezed at the edge of the scene is a table with the tools of an artist scattered about—palette knife, tubes of paints, a can of brush cleaner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
He points out how EU sulphur limits changed behaviour: ships calling at European ports had to switch to cleaner fuels or fit scrubbers to reduce pollution.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
When it arrived a couple of days later, she yanked the neck until it was loose and sprayed the bottom edge with bleach cleaner to make a stain.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
When the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or MTA, which currently employs nearly 3,700 transit cleaners, called for applicants in 2022, more than 75,000 people applied over about eight weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
It will have outlets such as banks and dry cleaners meant to serve the locals along with restaurants, bars and fashion or arts-oriented stores .
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
She said the technology being developed off the back of the data being collected could one day leave cleaners out of work.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
The think-tank has examined how the technology could help or harm dozens of professions -- from cobblers to sewer cleaners, farmers to tea sellers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
The next challenge was to rebut the testimony of Bill Hooks and Joe Hightower, who had claimed to see Walter’s modified “low-rider” truck pulling out from the cleaners about the time Ronda Morrison was murdered.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
