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 system easily outperforms private hospitals in cleanliness, communication, and patient satisfaction; last spring, its outpatient clinics had a ninety-two-per-cent trust rating. —David W. Brown, New Yorker, 12 June 2025

According to the researchers, the Midwest was the region with the most satisfied patients on average, with high scores around staff communication and hospital cleanliness in particular. —Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

The city is upgrading infrastructure, improving cleanliness and adding more trees and greenery throughout to create a more welcoming environment. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025

Criteria include the presence of algae, the prevalence of rip tides and the cleanliness of the beach, plus air and water temperatures. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanliness

• cleanliness is next to godliness