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

The District 130 board said the funds would be use to provide immediate additional custodian services to ensure cleanliness during an emergency situation where district facilities are unsanitary, according to the resolution. —Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

Ivory with honey soles These shoes perfectly understand the allure of cleanliness. —Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026

During the covid-19 pandemic, the city temporarily suspended street sweeping programs, causing another backslide in cleanliness. —Tim Craig The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2026

Fellow pro cleaner Joy Ramos agrees that consistency is key to carpet cleanliness. —Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanliness

• cleanliness is next to godliness