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

Stainless steel trash cans may require a bit more maintenance, more from an aesthetic perspective. —Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025

This philosophy is adopted widely among locals, who consider restorative treatments as a form of regular maintenance to counteract the rigors of urban living. —Terry Elward, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Each layout is optimized for energy efficiency, cost-effective utility integration, and long-term maintenance. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

The Denver Broncos have agreed to provide Denver Water with three parcels to place the parts of its campus that housed its operations and maintenance, distribution, trades, fleet, meter shop, warehouse and a health clinic. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 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