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dry cleaner

American  

noun

  1. a business that dry-cleans garments, draperies, etc.

  2. a person who owns or operates such an establishment.

  3. a liquid solvent used in dry cleaning.


Etymology

Origin of dry cleaner

First recorded in 1895–1900

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.

This leaves smaller companies — say, a restaurant or a dry cleaner.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026

Be especially cautious if you live in a building above a dry cleaner.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

A dry cleaner has said businesses just 10 miles away can charge a quarter of the price for services due to differing energy prices between regions.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025

I don’t even know how I picked my dry cleaner from the seven nearly identical locations within five minutes of my apartment.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2024

She tells me there’s a very good dry cleaner on Day Street.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson