laundry
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for laundry, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Clothes and linens that need washing, are being washed, or have just been washed.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use laundry
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French lavanderie, from Latin lavandaria, related to launder.
Full origin of laundry →Frequently asked questions
What does “laundry” mean?
The word “laundry” means clothes and linens that need washing, are being washed, or have just been washed. In plain terms, either dirty clothes waiting to be washed, or the place where washing happens.
How do you pronounce “laundry”?
“Laundry” is pronounced LAWN-dree (/ˈlɔːn.dɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “laundry” in a sentence?
Here is “laundry” used in a sentence: “I still have a mountain of laundry to fold.”
What is another word for “laundry”?
Words with a similar meaning to “laundry” include washing, lavatory, laundromat, washateria and laundrette.
What part of speech is “laundry”?
“Laundry” is a noun.
Where does the word “laundry” come from?
The word “laundry” comes from Latin. From Old French lavanderie, from Latin lavandaria, related to launder.
Is “laundry” a common word?
“Laundry” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “laundry” have?
“Laundry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: clothes and linens that need washing, are being washed, or have just been washed.
What is the difference between laundry and washing?
Laundry refers to clothes and linens that need washing, are being washed, or have just been washed, and it can also mean the place or business where washing is done. In British English, 'the washing' is a common everyday alternative for the clothes themselves, while 'laundry' is the usual term in American English. Both are correct; the difference is mainly regional.
Is laundry singular or plural?
Laundry is an uncountable noun when it refers to clothes, so it takes a singular verb: 'the laundry is folded,' not 'the laundry are folded.' The plural form 'laundries' is only used for the business sense, meaning several places where clothes are washed.
Do you say 'do the laundry' or 'make the laundry'?
The standard collocation in English is 'do the laundry' or 'do a load of laundry.' 'Make the laundry' is a common learner error, often carried over from languages that use 'make' for household chores.
What is the difference between a laundry and a laundromat?
A laundry is any place or business where clothes are washed, including services that wash, dry, and fold clothes for customers. A laundromat (called a launderette in Britain) is specifically a self-service laundry where customers operate coin- or card-operated machines themselves.