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

The site design also features restroom facilities, laundry machines, internet access and a secured perimeter with around-the-clock onsite security. —Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

Doing laundry can feel like an endless task. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026

Imagine a robot that could do your laundry, make your bed, cook your dinner, or stock the dairy section at your local grocery store. —Katia Riddle, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026

The suite’s walk-in closet has its own laundry, one of two in the home. —Sandra Barrera, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026

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