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

Xeriscaping is a landscape method that effectively reduces or removes the need for irrigation, making your landscape supremely low-maintenance. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 7 Mar. 2026

Paired with a 7-speed Shimano rear derailleur, the drivetrain ensures smooth, durable, and low-maintenance shifting, adaptable to varied terrain. —New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026

One fun aspect of the low-maintenance garden — which was featured on the 30th Anniversary Crescent Hill Garden Tour in 2024 — is the dry creek bed, which adds an aesthetically pleasing element to the backyard. —Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Mar. 2026

Sink skirts are low-maintenance—wash occasionally or spot clean as needed. —Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for low-maintenance

• maintenance