laundry

[ lawn-dree, lahn- ]

noun

, plural laun·dries.

1. articles of clothing, linens, etc., that have been or are to be washed.
2. a business establishment where clothes, linens, etc., are laundered.
3. a room or area, as in a home or apartment building, reserved for doing the family wash.

laundry

/ ˈlɔːndrɪ /

noun

1. a place where clothes and linen are washed and ironed
2. the clothes or linen washed and ironed
3. the act of laundering

Word History and Origins

Origin of laundry¹

1350–1400; Middle English lavandrie < Middle French lavanderie. See launder, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of laundry¹

C16: changed from C14 lavendry; see launder

Idioms and Phrases

see wash one's dirty linen (laundry) .

Example Sentences

“On Earth we have lots of different smells, like washing machine laundry or fresh air. But in space there’s just one smell, and we get used to it quickly,” explains Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, who spent eight days on the Soviet space station Mir in 1991.

From BBC

The laundry list of injuries has thrown rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still into major roles.

From Los Angeles Times

Another had a video of a half-naked trespasser from that morning in the laundry room.

From Los Angeles Times

In other cases, "judges do not want to hear about dirty laundry — who did what — because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you end the marriage," Chinitz said.

From Salon

I took care of the kids, worked at least part-time when child care permitted, prepared homemade meals and baked goods, did all the laundry for our large family and managed our finances, which was more of a “rob Peter to pay Paul” enterprise.

From Salon

Related Words

• washing