laundry
LAWN-dree
Laundry (noun) means Clothes and linens that need washing, are being washed, or have just been washed. Example: “Please bring the laundry in before it starts to rain again.”
noun
1
Clothes and linens that need washing, are being washed, or have just been washed.
"Please bring the laundry in before it starts to rain again."
"Her mother hung the freshly washed laundry on the line to dry."
"I still have a mountain of laundry to fold."
2
A place or business where clothes are washed.
"The hotel sends its sheets to a commercial laundry every morning."
"There is a self-service laundry near the station where students wash their clothes."
"She dropped her suits off at the laundry on the corner."
How to use laundry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither dirty clothes waiting to be washed, or the place where washing happens.
Common pairings
do the laundry
dirty laundry
laundry basket
laundry service
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like laundry.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- laundries
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please bring the _____ in before it starts to rain again.
Etymology
From Old French lavanderie, from Latin lavandaria, related to launder.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for laundry
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include laundry:
