cleanly

UK: /ˈkliːnli/

US: /adj. ˈklɛnli; adv. ˈklinli/

US: (adj. klen′lē; adv. klēn′lē)

Inflections of 'cleanly' (adj):

cleanlier

adj comparative

cleanliest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

clean•ly /adj. ˈklɛnli; adv. ˈklinli/   adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv. 
adj. 

1. personally neat;
   careful to keep or make clean:
   a cleanly appearance.

adv. 

2. in a clean manner:
   slid cleanly down the chute.

clean•li•ness /ˈklɛnlinɪs/  n. 

[uncountable] Cleanliness is next to godliness.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

clean•ly  (adj. klen′lē;adv. klēn′lē), adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv. 
adj. 

1. personally neat;
   careful to keep or make clean:
   The cat is by nature a cleanly animal.
2. habitually kept clean.
3. [Obs.] cleansing;
   making clean.

adv. 

4. in a clean manner.

• Middle English clenlich(e), Old English clǣnlīc, equivalent. to clǣne clean + -līc -ly bef. 900

clean•li•ness  (klen′lē nis), n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cleanly adverb / ˈkliːnlɪ/

1. in a fair manner
2. easily or smoothly: the screw went into the wood cleanly

adjective / ˈklɛnlɪ/ ( -lier, -liest)

1. habitually clean or neat

cleanlily / ˈklɛnlɪlɪ/ adverb

cleanliness / ˈklɛnlɪnɪs/ noun