Standard Lemma guide

housecleaning

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: HH AW1 S K L IY2 N IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Collectively, the tasks involved with cleaning a house; the practice of cleaning a house.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • If you do not keep up with the housecleaning, you will soon have a huge mess.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

present participle and gerund of houseclean

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the act of cleaning the rooms and furnishings of a house

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • efficient housecleaning should proceed one room at a time

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cleaning, cleansing, cleanup

4

noun

Meaning 4

(figurative) the act of reforming by the removal of unwanted personnel or practices or conditions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • more housecleaning is in store at other accounting firms
  • many employees were discharged in a general housecleaning by the new owners

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reform

History

Etymology

From house + cleaning.

From houseclean + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: siivous — tasks or practice of cleaning a house