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

In July, the toilets had a user return rate of 25.7% and an overall user cleanliness rating of 4.09 out of 5. Detroit Detroit started a one-month pilot program with two Thrones in Cadillac Square on July 10. —Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Vacuuming is key for removing dust mites and allergens, while spot cleaning can help eliminate odors and other cleanliness issues. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2025

That cleanliness mentality can also be used to monitor for lead paint. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 30 July 2025

Auckland, New Zealand earned fifth spot on the list thanks largely to its cleanliness score and the quality of its green spaces and parks. —Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cleanliness

• cleanliness is next to godliness