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.
The FDA made recommendations, including that Taylor improve hand-washing procedures and encourage ill employees to submit stool samples for analysis to help determine the region’s risk for cyclospora.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
A dirty floor, inadequate hand-washing facilities in some areas and broken equipment posing a potential contamination risk were also identified in the inspectors' report.
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026
Experts suggest increased hand-washing to avoid catching the ultra-contagious stomach bug.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 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
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.
