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 Harvard Law analysis points out that the loose language of the bill could have other consequences, maybe even gutting some state safety, labeling and cleanliness standards. —Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026

One complaint Plasencia got from the students was related to bathroom cleanliness. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

Inadequate handwashing, poor food storage and general lack of cleanliness caused a South Miami-Dade supermarket to fail state inspection for the second time in 27 months. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

The study found that larger ships, cruise lines with large fleets, and the age of the ship aren’t necessarily factors in a ship’s cleanliness. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanliness

• cleanliness is next to godliness