- comparative of clean.
cleaner
Americannoun
-
cleaners
plural
-
a person who cleans, especially one whose regular occupation is cleaning offices, buildings, equipment, etc.
-
an apparatus or machine for cleaning, as a vacuum cleaner.
-
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:
Peeling produces a slightly cleaner finished syrup, but because the mixture will eventually be strained, leaving the skins on works perfectly well.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
On a busy road across from a dry cleaner, the storefront entrance blends into the real tire shop it’s attached to.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“The park was cleaner when it had the boats,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
"My landlord used to call me Peter Pan," said 61-year-old Martin James, a former cleaner, farmer and singer who now spends much of his time buying, creating and altering his collectables.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
And then I cleaned their tub with the cleaner under the sink.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Robots like automated industrial equipment and smart vacuum cleaners are already widely used in factories, warehouses and homes.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
"The idea of tiny robotic cleaners may sound futuristic, but we are already demonstrating the physical principles that make it possible."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
He became a suspect after a clerk at a dry cleaners that had been robbed saw Brambles at a motel and called police.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Among the examples cited by the task force was the case of French programmer Sammy Azdoufal, who reportedly accessed data from thousands of robotic vacuum cleaners made by Chinese manufacturer DJI.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
“I go to work at five o’clock tonight. Lucky will come for me in a few minutes. He’s just gone to the cleaners to get his jacket. I’ll eat at the café.”
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
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.
