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 best opportunity for Portugal came through Nuno Mendes, whose deflected shot rocketed off the crossbar after cleanly beating Spanish keeper Unai Simón. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Previous studies suggested that dielectric screening plays an important role, but structural distortions and screening effects remained so intertwined that they could not be cleanly separated. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 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