cleanliness
Americannoun
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the quality, state, or habit of being cleanly, or keeping oneself clean and neat.
personal cleanliness.
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the quality, state, or habit of being kept clean, as a place or object.
the cleanliness of the restaurant.
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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 , 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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The initial idea came from a personal interest Rigden had in watching YouTube videos of people power washing and the "simplicity of seeing dirt turn to cleanliness".
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
You may find yourself pantomiming with one of your feet to your children in the persona of “Mr. Stinkyfoot,” a somewhat boorish Frenchman who espouses the importance of cleanliness and the needs for a bath.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026
“We have an unacceptable number of people who are unhoused. We have affordability issues. I’d say city cleanliness is on the decline. We are not well prepared for disasters, as was clearly seen last year.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026
The country boasts a modern highway network, efficient public transportation, widespread high-speed internet, and safety and cleanliness in public spaces.
From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026
My grandmother’s face softened as she noticed the sheen of cleanliness.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
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.
