maintenance

noun

main·te·nance | \ ˈmānt-nən(t)s

, ˈmān-tə-nən(t)s\

Definition of maintenance

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

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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

Their baths, showers and sinks are low maintenance — they’re easily wiped clean — and have a lifetime guarantee, all without the huge investment of a traditional bathroom remodel. — Stepfanie Romine, Cincinnati.com, "Remodel your bathroom — for less money, with less mess and in less time," 10 June 2019 But for every lash devotee out there, there's someone who'll be quick to warn you: extensions are not low-maintenance, incredibly uncomfortable, and stupid expensive to maintain. — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, "Everything You Need To Know About Eyelash Extensions," 8 June 2019 French marigolds are low-maintenance and beginner-friendly. — Tainaya Nash, House Beautiful, "This Flower Could Bring You Good Fortune," 5 June 2019 Clarke was perhaps the premier energy big in college basketball this season, combining efficient, low-maintenance offense with prolific shot-blocking skills and giving Gonzaga an interior backbone. — Jeremy Woo, SI.com, "2019 NBA Draft Big Board 7.0: Top 100 Prospect Rankings," 5 June 2019 To address common commuting concerns, Marin included reliable, low-maintenance components like hydraulic disc brakes, puncture-resistant tires, and a 3-speed internally gear hub. — Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Commuter Bikes for Any Commute," 16 May 2019 All homes at 50 Pine Street are built to endure, using long-lasting, low-maintenance design and materials. — 50 Pine Street, The Seattle Times, "Luxury condominiums in the heart of Puget Sound," 11 Apr. 2019 Consider this your guide to planning a low-maintenance warm getaway that’s good for your mind and body—and won’t empty your bank account. 1. — Annie Daly, SELF, "7 Tips for Planning a Cheap Getaway Somewhere Warm," 20 Mar. 2019 This low-maintenance outfit is probably already on your closet, so if you're strapped for time, just copy Ciara's look. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "10 Instagram-Worthy Ways to Wear Boyfriend Jeans," 8 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maintenance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near maintenance

maintain life

maintain one's cool/composure

maintenance of membership

Statistics for maintenance

Last Updated

17 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for maintenance

The first known use of maintenance was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for maintenance

maintenance

noun

English Language Learners Definition of maintenance

: the act of keeping property or equipment in good condition by making repairs, correcting problems, etc.

: the act of causing something to exist or continue without changing

: the act of providing support for someone or something

See the full definition for maintenance in the English Language Learners Dictionary

maintenance

noun

main·te·nance | \ ˈmān-tə-nəns

Kids Definition of maintenance

1 : the act of keeping or providing for : the state of being kept or provided for One of government's jobs is the maintenance of law and order. We collected money for the family's maintenance.

2 : upkeep Workers in charge of maintenance painted the building.

maintenance

adjective

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

Medical Definition of maintenance

: 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