cleaner

American  

[klee-ner] / ˈkli nər /

noun

1. a person who cleans, especially one whose regular occupation is cleaning offices, buildings, equipment, etc.

2. an apparatus or machine for cleaning, as a vacuum cleaner.

3. a preparation for use in cleaning, as a detergent or chemical bleach.

4. the owner or operator of a dry-cleaning establishment.

   The cleaner said he couldn't get the spot off my coat.

5. Usually cleaners. a dry-cleaning establishment.

   My suit is at the cleaners.

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idioms

1. take to the cleaners, to cause to lose all or a great deal of one's money or personal property, as through gambling or a bad investment.

   He got taken to the cleaners in the poker game last night.

cleaner British  

/ ˈkliːnə /

noun

1. a person, device, chemical agent, etc, that removes dirt, as from clothes or carpets

2. (usually plural) a shop, etc that provides a dry-cleaning service

3. informal to rob or defraud a person of all of his money

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precleaner
  noun

Etymology

Origin of cleaner

First recorded in 1425–75, cleaner is from the late Middle English word clener. See clean, -er ¹

Explanation

A cleaner is either a person whose job involves tidying and disinfecting, or it's a substance used to do that work, like soap. If the cleaner runs out of window cleaner, they might try using vinegar. Professional cleaners might work in people's homes, in which case you might call them housekeepers, or they might work in office buildings, on work sites, or really anywhere that needs to be cleaned. Some cleaners (like dry cleaners) clean clothing and other textiles. Being a cleaner is hard work — and if you've ever watched workers suspended on scaffolding using big squeegees to clean skyscraper windows, you know that it can be thrilling work, too.

Example Sentences

Membrane-based filtration is generally considered a cleaner alternative, but conventional polymer membranes often contain pores of uneven size.

From Science Daily • Jun. 12, 2026

Beijing cleaner Lin Meiqiong found her work a little easier the day she was paired with an unlikely new colleague -- a tall, wheeled robot with AI-powered tidying skills.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

“But at the same time, it almost would just be cleaner to bring it all together.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

“Everyone wants cleaner waterways. However, this proposal simply isn’t ready for prime time,” said Mike Lewis, BizFed’s water co-chair.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Some people claim that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than humans’ mouths.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Related Words

• cleanser
• disinfectant
• soap