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

Science fiction has conditioned many people to imagine humanoid robots folding laundry, washing dishes, and becoming household companions. —Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

When used in the laundry, these chemicals can soften fibers and help lift residue and oils. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026

Horror master Stephen King honed his craft early in his career by writing short stories while making a meager income as a teacher, industrial laundry worker, and high school janitor. —René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026

AGVs now operate between the warehouse and cutting area, and another fleet manages transport between sewing workshop and the washing laundry. —Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 4 May 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