low-maintenance

adjective

low-main·​te·​nance ˈlō-ˈmānt-nən(t)s 

-ˈmān-tə-nən(t)s

1

: requiring little care or maintenance

low-maintenance fabrics

a low-maintenance garden

What was also high on their beauty wish list? Keeping their natural hair as a basis for a look that is professional as well as low-maintenance.

—Essence

2

of a person : not tending to cause problems or demand attention : easy and pleasant to deal with or work with

"Bobby Jay is one of those high-character, low-maintenance guys you look for," said Rick Dudley, Lightning vice president of hockey operations. "He has a tremendous work ethic."

—Nancy Marrapese-Burrell

He's a rare breed, a low-maintenance White House aide.

—Fred Barnes

Examples of low-maintenance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Make sure to request incorporating the highlights into the brown base in a low-maintenance way. 07 of 20 Subtle Chestnut Undertones While this deep brown may look one-dimensional at first glance, a second take shows off thin chestnut babylights that follow the curves of the hair. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2023

The popularity of root perms goes hand in hand with the rise of low-maintenance beauty: People are opting to get beauty treatments with long-lasting effects a few times a year to cut down on their daily beauty routines. —Annie Blay, Allure, 22 Sep. 2023

Golden Retriever vs Labrador: Hunting Differences Labs are much more popular among waterfowl hunters than are goldens, which is partly due to the to the Lab’s shorter, low-maintenance coat. —Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 21 Sep. 2023

Hair Colors Blended Tones The era of low-maintenance color is here. —Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023

But unlike some of her more polished looks, her low-maintenance styling gave the look a tousled, just-got-out-of-bed-in-an-Ivy-League-dorm energy. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2023

The low-maintenance yard is landscaped with native and drought-tolerant plantings — olive trees and various species of cacti, along with a petite patch of grassy lawn and a saltwater swimming pool in the backyard. —James McClain, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2023

Of all of the solo date activities out there, this is my favorite low-maintenance option and has become my Sunday reset ritual. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 7 Sep. 2023

Water, Soil, and Fertilizer Despite looking quite finicky, the bird-of-paradise plant has a low-maintenance care routine. —Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 3 Sep. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1