Cleanliness
/ˈklɛnlɪnəs/
Definitions
The state of being free from dirt, marks, or contaminants.
/ˈklɛnlɪnəs/
The state or quality of being clean.
The cleanliness of the hospital was impeccable.
💡 Simply: Cleanliness means being really, really clean! Like when your room is tidy and everything is sparkling. It's important for staying healthy and feeling good.
👶 For kids: Being clean and tidy.
More Examples
She prides herself on her cleanliness.
How It's Used
"Maintaining cleanliness in the house is important for hygiene."
"Surgical cleanliness is crucial to prevent infections."
From Middle English clenenesse, from clene ('clean') + -nesse ('state or quality of'). The root ultimately derives from Proto-Germanic *klainō, meaning 'clean'.
The word 'cleanliness' has been used similarly across centuries, always emphasizing the absence of dirt and the presence of hygiene.
Memory tip
Think of 'clean' plus '-ness' to indicate a state of being.
Word Origin
"clean"