cleanly

[ adjective klen-lee; adverb kleen-lee ]

/ adjective ˈklɛn li; adverb ˈklin li /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cleanly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, clean·li·er, clean·li·est.

personally neat; careful to keep or make clean: The cat is by nature a cleanly animal.

habitually kept clean.

Obsolete. cleansing; making clean.

adverb

in a clean manner.

Nearby words

Origin of cleanly

before 900; Middle English clenlich(e), Old English clǣnlīc, equivalent to clǣne clean + -līc -ly

Related formsclean·li·ness

[klen-lee-nis] /ˈklɛn li nɪs/, noun

Can be confusedcleanliness cleanness

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cleanliness

As long as you exercise basic sanitation and cleanliness sort of protocols … I think the risk is relatively low.
U.S. Soldiers Get Just Four Hours of Ebola Training|Tim Mak|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here, he seasons salmon like a pro and dishes out lessons about the importance of cleanliness and seasoning.
2 Chainz, Snoop Lion, and More Rappers in the Kitchen|Filipa Ioannou|August 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If you want to suss out the cleanliness and hygiene level of any hotel, take a quick look behind furniture and drapes.
Gordon Ramsay: 7 Hotel Horrors!|Gordon Ramsay|August 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If a guard dog licks one of your dinner plates, for example, serious scrubbing is involved to restore its cleanliness.
The Lighter Side of Islam|Neil MacFarquhar|May 6, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Especial attention should be paid to cleanliness during this period.
The Eugenic Marriage, Vol 2 (of 4)|W. Grant Hague
He will be responsible for the cleanliness of his lines and will frequently visit the latrines.
Military Instructors Manual|James P. Cole and Oliver Schoonmaker
Would not a strong government have begun by stifling the scandal, from motives of patriotism, a mere sense of cleanliness even?
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete|Emile Zola
In all cases the number of the parasites were greater in proportion to the neglect of cleanliness.
The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, Vol. XLIX|Various
The duties of cleanliness and temperance fall under the same head as the above.
The Moral Instruction of Children|Felix Adler

British Dictionary definitions for cleanliness

cleanly

adverb (ˈkliːnlɪ)

in a fair manner

easily or smoothlythe screw went into the wood cleanly

adjective (ˈklɛnlɪ) -lier or -liest

habitually clean or neat

Derived Formscleanlily (ˈklɛnlɪlɪ), adverbcleanliness (ˈklɛnlɪnɪs), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cleanliness

cleanliness

early 15c., from cleanly + -ness.

Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness. [John Wesley, Sermon "On Dress," c.1791]

cleanly

adj.

Old English clænlic "morally pure, innocent," from clæne (see clean (adj.)). Of persons, "habitually clean," from c.1500.

cleanly

adv.

Old English clænlice; see clean (adj.) + -ly (2).

cleanly

adjective, clean·li·er, clean·li·est.

adverb

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Nearby words

Origin of cleanly

Examples from the Web for cleanliness

cleanly

adverb (ˈkliːnlɪ)

adjective (ˈklɛnlɪ) -lier or -liest

cleanliness

cleanly

cleanly