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 cycles of illness and deflection at Taylor Farms illustrate a larger problem in the American food safety system, the experts said, which overwhelmingly relies on companies to self-police the cleanliness of their own produce. — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

Inspectors found issues with unsafe food storage, improper labeling and an overall lack of cleanliness, according to a city of Arlington spokesperson. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026

The sous chef is responsible for the whole kitchen, organization, cleanliness, prep, staff, standards, training and most importantly, making sure all cooks are on board with the executive chef’s vision. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026

Use High-Quality Products A high-quality dishwasher detergent can make all the difference in the cleanliness of your dishes at the end of a cycle. — The Spruce, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanliness

• cleanliness is next to godliness