housecleaning

[hous-klee-ning]

noun

1. the act of cleaning cleaning a house, room, etc., and its furnishings, especially the act of cleaning cleaning thoroughly and completely.

2. the act of improving or reforming by weeding out excess or corrupt personnel or of revising methods of operation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of housecleaning¹

First recorded in 1860–65; house + cleaning

Example Sentences

He embraced a conspiracy theory positing the FBI was “irredeemably corrupt” and advocated “an absolute housecleaning.”

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“The United States is supposed to be the leader of the world and some punks are letting it go to the ashcan. We obviously need some housecleaning.”

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In the memoir, which criticises the so-called deep state, Patel calls for "comprehensive housecleaning" of the FBI by firing “the top ranks”.

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The Republican presidential candidate recently offered his emphatic endorsement of a housecleaning when a YouTube personality asked whether he would restore trust in government by holding federal workers “accountable.”

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But even after a new album — the band’s 12th — was released in April, concert sales lagged, leading to the cancellations and a housecleaning behind the scenes.

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