cleanliness

noun

clean·​li·​ness ˈklen-lē-nəs 

: the quality or state of being clean : the practice of keeping oneself or one's surroundings clean

Though a stale remark, it can hardly be said too often, that personal cleanliness is one of the necessary agents to health …

—Walt Whitman

The Romans spent hours at their elaborate bathhouse complexes, but not everyone equated cleanliness with virtue …

—Sara Ivry

This cleanliness is necessary to ensure that no dust or particles end up on the silicon surface during the processing of the chip.

—Robert J. Cone

Examples of cleanliness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests lie on linen sheets, washed daily, on the floor for cleanliness. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Their standards include, but are not limited to testing water quality as well as soil assessments, machinery and harvest cleanliness rules and traceability and training requirements. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

Japanese fans are known for cleaning up after games, and this was just another example of their tradition of order and cleanliness. — Meredith Nierman, NPR, 17 July 2026

Green flags are different for everyone, and for Hartley, cleanliness was at the top of the list. — Staff Author, InStyle, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanliness

• cleanliness is next to godliness