grooming

American  

noun

1. the care of a body and its physical appearance, such as the personal hygiene routine of brushing one’s teeth or combing one’s hair, or the washing, brushing, etc., of a dog or horse.

   Grooming your dogs at home is less expensive than taking them to the groomer, if you can stand the wet dog smell and the hair that ends up everywhere.

2. the act or result of preparing a trail for a specific use, such as skiing, biking, or hiking.

   Donation boxes have been posted at each trail to cover their grooming and other maintenance costs.

3. the act or process of preparing someone to fill a position or role or to undertake an activity.

   The grooming of new personnel to handle additional responsibilities requires team leaders who will act as mentors and share constructive feedback.

4. an act or instance of engaging in behaviors or practices intended to gradually condition or emotionally manipulate a victim over time, as through friendship, gifts, flattery, etc., in order to entrap the person in a sexually abusive or predatory relationship.

   The ongoing targeting and grooming of minors online shows that our safety protocols for children on the internet are insufficient.

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Etymology

Origin of grooming

First recorded in 1810–20 grooming for def. 1 and in 1985–90 grooming for def. 4; groom ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

White said that in addition to better pay, the department needs to look at other strategies to recruit people, such as softening the department’s policies on uniforms and grooming.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

In some cases, up to five cone ants would gather and begin grooming.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

It creates a long chain of spending on food, grooming, healthcare, apparel, toys, boarding, and services.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Though their obsessions with moisturizers and eyebrow grooming seem pretty girlie to someone of my generation, looksmaxxing is rooted in objectification.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

When Dae Hyun was thirteen and still living in South Korea, his father began grooming him to take over the family’s meager crab fishing business.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Related Words

• admonition
• censure
• rebuke