laundry

noun

laun·​dry ˈlȯn-drē 

ˈlän-

plural laundries

1

a

: a room for doing the family wash

b

: a commercial laundering establishment

2

: clothes or linens that have been or are to be laundered

Examples of laundry in a Sentence

There's a pile of dirty laundry in the laundry basket.

The patients' sheets are sent regularly to the hospital laundry.

Recent Examples on the Web

In surveillance footage reviewed by authorities, Brower is seen walking up to Harrington while the victim was doing his laundry and briefly speaking with him before fatally stabbing him, WXXV 24 reports. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 5 June 2024

Without this care, Gardner couldn’t bathe, prepare meals, do laundry or clean her home. —Josh Kelety, Fortune Well, 24 May 2024

Gutierrez led protests demanding ASU pressure the laundry to improve working conditions and wages. —Daniel Gonzalez, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024

The suites and staterooms all have verandas, a first for Oceania, which has also made a concerted effort to court solo travelers by offering new perks like lounge access, free laundry, and priority restaurant reservations without a singles supplement. —Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing laundry

• air one's dirty laundry
• dirty laundry
• do the/one's laundry
• laundry list
• load of laundry

Kids Definition

laundry

noun

laun·​dry ˈlȯn-drē 

ˈlän-

plural laundries

1

: clothes or linens that have been or are to be laundered

2

: a place where laundering is done

Etymology

from an obsolete word launder (noun) "one who washes clothes," derived from early French lavandier (or lavandiere) "a man (or woman) who washes clothes," from Latin lavandus "needing to be washed," from lavare "to wash" — related to lavatory, lavish, lotion