maintenance

noun

main·​te·​nance ˈmānt-nən(t)s 

ˈmān-tə-nən(t)s

1

: the act of maintaining : the state of being maintained : support

The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance.

2

: something that maintains

at least half of them are living parasitically on the other half instead of producing maintenance for themselves

—G. B. Shaw

3

: the upkeep of property or equipment

the maintenance of the school

4

: an officious or unlawful intermeddling in a legal suit by assisting either party with means to carry it on

Synonyms

• preservation
• preserving
• upkeep

Examples of maintenance in a Sentence

Soon he could take an Underwood apart and put it together blindfolded, a trick that won him the account for maintenance of all the typewriters at Columbia-Presbyterian hospital … —Ian Frazier, Atlantic, November 1997

The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance.

the costs of routine car maintenance

maintenance of law and order

money for the family's maintenance

Recent Examples on the Web

Shipbuilding is seen as a particular area of South Korean military industrial strength, and Washington has already seen contracts for maintenance of US Navy supply ships go to South Korean yards as the Navy grapples with a backlog in US shipyards. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 12 July 2025

The cushion covers on the chair and ottoman are removable and machine-washable for easy maintenance. —Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 12 July 2025

Louisville Metro Councilmember Ben Reno-Weber, who has also been involved in the location's maintenance, emphasized the importance of taking care of community spaces like Big Rock. —Ruby Grisin, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025

The slate of upcoming rocket launches would be the first in about two weeks following routine maintenance at the launch complex where SpaceX missions get off the ground from the Vandenberg Space Force Base. —Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from maintenir — see maintain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing maintenance

• health maintenance organization
• high-maintenance
• low-maintenance
• self-maintenance

Kids Definition

maintenance

noun

main·​te·​nance ˈmānt-nən(t)s 

-ᵊn-ən(t)s

1

: the act of maintaining : the state of being maintained

maintenance of law and order

money for the family's maintenance

2

: something that maintains

3

: the care of property or equipment

workers in charge of maintenance

Medical Definition

maintenance

adjective

main·​te·​nance ˈmānt-nən(t)s, -ᵊn-ən(t)s 

: designed or adequate to maintain a patient in a stable condition : serving to maintain a gradual process of healing or to prevent a relapse

a maintenance dose

maintenance chemotherapy

Legal Definition

maintenance

noun

main·​te·​nance

1

a

: the act of providing basic and necessary support

b

: the state of having such support

2

: a financial means of providing necessary assistance: as

a

: alimony

b

: support

3

: the necessities of life provided for by payment of maintenance

4

: the upkeep of property or equipment

5

: unsought and unnecessary meddling in a lawsuit by assisting either party with means to carry it on compare champerty