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

This year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled a discrimination lawsuit against BaronHR and Radiant Services, a commercial laundry company, that raised similar issues involving gender and race.

From New York Times

She grabbed books, laundry, anything she could carry, but remembers thinking that with their house so far above the water there was no way it could be affected.

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

Related Words

• washing