cleanly

1 of 2

adverb

clean·​ly ˈklēn-lē 

: in a clean manner

cleanly

2 of 2

adjective

clean·​ly ˈklen-lē 

cleanlier; cleanliest

1

: careful to keep clean : fastidious

2

: habitually kept clean

Synonyms of cleanly

Adverb

• legally

Examples of cleanly in a Sentence

Adverb

A sharp knife will cut through the skin of a tomato cleanly.

This fuel burns more cleanly than other fuels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The transmission shifts cleanly and predictably, giving the powertrain a natural character missing from many small crossovers equipped with continuously variable transmissions. — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Draft the pitch, outline the campaign, or rehearse the line that needs to land cleanly. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026

Adjective

In other words, historical comparables suggest that Sherwood’s trade value probably isn’t cleanly at the level of him returning a first-round pick to Vancouver if he’s ultimately traded between now and March 6. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026

Whoever wins cleanly leaves with both the championship belts. — Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cleanly

• greenly
• keenly
• meanly
• queenly
• routinely

Kids Definition

cleanly

1 of 2 adverb

clean·​ly ˈklēn-lē 

: in a clean manner

cleanly

2 of 2 adjective

clean·​ly ˈklen-lē 

cleanlier; cleanliest

1

: careful to keep clean

a cleanly animal

2

: being kept clean by habit

cleanly surroundings

cleanliness noun