cleanliness is next to godliness
phrase
—used to say that it is almost as important to be clean as it is to be good
Cite this Entry
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleanliness%20is%20next%20to%20godliness. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
