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

• care and feeding
• conservation
• conserving
• keep
• preservation
• preserving
• sustentation
• 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

Black men were an important part of the construction and maintenance crews which built these courses. —Craig Gill / Made By History, TIME, 13 June 2024

The historic apartment building in Miami was destroyed in a 3-alarm fire on Monday that police say was set by a resident who also shot the building’s maintenance man. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 12 June 2024

The responsibility can fall on various shoulders – the trucking company, the vehicle or parts manufacturer, maintenance providers, or even government entities. —Chris Gallagher, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024

Related article An affordability crisis is making some young Americans give up on ever owning a home Jeff Ostrowski, analyst at Bankrate, told CNN that the main drivers of the spike in homeownership expenses are the cost of maintenance and insurance. —Matt Egan, CNN, 11 June 2024

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