laundry

noun

laun·​dry ˈlȯn-drē 

ˈlän-

plural laundries

1

a

: a room for doing the family wash

b

: a commercial laundering establishment

2

: clothes or linens that have been or are to be laundered

Examples of laundry in a Sentence

There's a pile of dirty laundry in the laundry basket.

The patients' sheets are sent regularly to the hospital laundry.

Recent Examples on the Web

Skipping breaks is bad for you, especially if you’re used to changing the laundry or walking the dog every couple of hours. —Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 28 June 2025

Simply place the pad in the accompanying mini wash bag and pop it into the laundry. —The Glamour Editors, Glamour, 26 June 2025

Known for their uninspired concepts (FBI: CIA???) rote character development, and predictable plotting, these types of dramas can be great to fold laundry to, but that’s about it. —EW.com, 25 June 2025

Russell suggests giving kids practical goals that accomplish a goal around the house or within the family—watering plants, setting the table, folding laundry—and thanking them for their help. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing laundry

• air one's dirty laundry
• dirty laundry
• do the/one's laundry
• laundry list
• load of laundry

Kids Definition

laundry

noun

laun·​dry ˈlȯn-drē 

ˈlän-

plural laundries

1

: clothes or linens that have been or are to be laundered

2

: a place where laundering is done

Etymology

from an obsolete word launder (noun) "one who washes clothes," derived from early French lavandier (or lavandiere) "a man (or woman) who washes clothes," from Latin lavandus "needing to be washed," from lavare "to wash" — related to lavatory, lavish, lotion