hand-washing
Americannoun
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the act or activity of laundering something by hand.
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the act or activity of washing one’s hands.
Etymology
Origin of hand-washing
First recorded in 1790–95; hand ( def. ) + washing ( def. )
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.
“We have tried to intervene with limited resources by setting up a hand-washing station and providing some personal protective equipment for staff,” Lusenge told the Journal by email.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026
Strict hygiene instructions, including vigorous hand-washing, were followed, at all times.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025
Last month, inspectors found what appeared to be mold and mildew around the hand-washing sinks used by workers preparing ready-to-eat meats, CBS News reported.
From Salon • Sep. 18, 2024
“Individuals that are unhoused are at higher risk for contracting hepatitis A infection because they often have limited access to hand-washing and toileting facilities,” the department wrote in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2024
I waited, listening to footsteps come and go, to the water-sounds of hand-washing and flushing.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
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.
