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

This combination is designed to help the robot collect larger debris while also filtering smaller particles that can affect pool cleanliness. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

The 9th District is the poorest in the city and residents face an array of challenges, including homelessness, safety and street cleanliness, according to the candidates. — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

This is not the first time the cleanliness of the hot springs facilities has raised concern. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026

How hotel cleanliness schedules vary by brand Policy is not uniform across the industry, and for travelers running multi-city weeks, the flag on the sign matters. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanliness

• cleanliness is next to godliness