cleaner
KLEE-nuh
Cleaner (noun) means a person whose job is cleaning buildings, rooms, or other spaces. Example: “The cleaner always empties the bins and wipes the desks before we arrive.”
noun
1
A person whose job is cleaning buildings, rooms, or other spaces.
"The cleaner always empties the bins and wipes the desks before we arrive."
"My aunt works as a cleaner at the local primary school."
"The office cleaner comes in every evening after everyone leaves."
2
A product or device used to clean something.
"Use a mild cleaner on the wooden floor to avoid damaging it."
"She sprayed the oven cleaner and left it to soak."
"He ran the vacuum cleaner over the rug."
3
A shop that launders or dry-cleans clothes.
"The cleaner on the high street can press a shirt in a day."
"Could you collect my coat from the cleaner's on your way home?"
"I need to drop this suit at the cleaner's."
How to use cleaner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something whose job is making things clean, or a shop that dry-cleans clothes.
Common pairings
vacuum cleaner
window cleaner
dry cleaner
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Word forms
- Plural
- cleaners
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ always empties the bins and wipes the desks before we arrive.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English clener, clenere, equivalent to clean and -er (the agent noun suffix).
Related words
Rhymes for cleaner
See all rhymes for cleaner →Frequently asked questions
What does “cleaner” mean?
The word “cleaner” means a person whose job is cleaning buildings, rooms, or other spaces. In plain terms, someone or something whose job is making things clean, or a shop that dry-cleans clothes.
How do you pronounce “cleaner”?
“Cleaner” is pronounced KLEE-nuh (/ˈkli.nɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cleaner” in a sentence?
Here is “cleaner” used in a sentence: “The office cleaner comes in every evening after everyone leaves.”
What part of speech is “cleaner”?
“Cleaner” is a noun.
Is “cleaner” a common word?
“Cleaner” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “cleaner” have?
“Cleaner” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person whose job is cleaning buildings, rooms, or other spaces.
What is the difference between a cleaner and a janitor?
A cleaner is a person whose job is cleaning buildings, rooms, or spaces, a term common in British English. A janitor, more common in American English, usually does cleaning too but often has additional caretaking duties such as basic maintenance, locking up, and looking after a building.
What is the difference between a cleaner and a cleanser?
A cleaner is a general product or device used to clean something, or a person who cleans. A cleanser usually refers specifically to a product for cleaning the skin or face, so "cleaner" is the broader household term and "cleanser" is more often cosmetic.
What is the difference between a cleaner and a dry cleaner?
A cleaner can mean a person who cleans spaces or a cleaning product, while a dry cleaner, or "the cleaner's," is a shop that launders and dry-cleans clothes. When people say they are taking clothes "to the cleaner's," they mean the shop, not a person.
