cleaner

noun

clean·​er ˈklē-nər 

plural cleaners

1

a

: one whose work is cleaning

b

: dry cleaner

also : a dry-cleaning shop

—usually used in plural

2

: a preparation for cleaning

3

: an implement or machine for cleaning

see also take to the cleaners

Synonyms of cleaner

• soap

Examples of cleaner in a Sentence

He recommends using baking soda as a general household cleaner.

a kitchen shelf loaded with household cleaners

Recent Examples on the Web

Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil Remove your makeup without drying out sensitive winter skin with this oil cleaner, which more than 100,000 Amazon shoppers have added to cart in the past month alone. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025

Volunteering opportunities across each of these platforms are as vast and varied as any other form of travel, from hostels seeking receptionists, cleaners and party promoters, to surf schools in need of teachers, to local families looking for childcare workers. —Georgiana Ralphs, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025

And critically, in most cases, don’t use liquid cleaners on shag rugs. —Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2025

Or more specifically, cleaners’ work. —Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cleaner

• dry cleaner
• house cleaner
• pipe cleaner
• the cleaner's
• vacuum cleaner

Rhymes for cleaner

• diener
• gleaner
• greener
• keener
• leaner
• lienor
• meaner
• screener
• convener
• convenor
• demeanor
• demeanour

Kids Definition

cleaner

noun

clean·​er ˈklē-nər 

1

: one whose work is cleaning

2

: a substance used for cleaning

3

: a device or machine for cleaning