1
a
: free from dirt or pollution
changed to clean clothes
clean solar energy
b
: free from contamination or disease
a clean wound
c
: free or relatively free from radioactivity
a clean atomic explosion
2
a
: unadulterated, pure
the clean thrill of one's first flight
b
of a precious stone
: having no interior flaws visible
c
: free from growth that hinders tillage
clean farmland
3
a
: free from moral corruption or sinister connections of any kind
a candidate with a clean record
also
: free from violations
a clean driving record
b
: free from offensive treatment of sexual subjects and from the use of obscenity
a clean joke
c
: observing the rules : fair
a clean fight
4
: ceremonially or spiritually pure
and all who are clean may eat flesh—
Leviticus 7:19 (Revised Standard Version)
Leviticus 7:19 (Revised Standard Version)5
6
b
: unencumbered
clean bill of sale
7
8
a
: empty
the ship returned with a clean hold
b
: free from drug addiction
has been clean for six months
c
slang
: having no contraband (such as weapons or drugs) in one's possession
All visitors to the prison are searched to make sure they're clean.
d
of a computer
: not having anything added by a user
installed the software on a clean computer
9
: habitually neat
1
a
: so as to clean
a new broom sweeps clean
b
: in a clean manner
play the game clean
2
: all the way : completely
the bullet went clean through his arm
cleaned; cleaning; cleans
1
a
: to make clean: such as
(1)
: to rid of dirt, impurities, or extraneous matter
clean a wound
(2)
: to rid of corruption
vowing to clean up city hall
: to undergo or perform a process of cleaning
clean up before dinner
: an act of cleaning dirt especially from the surface of something
She gave the tub a good clean.
Examples of clean in a Sentence
Adjective
This table isn't clean. There's a sticky spot where something spilled.
He keeps a very clean house.
The janitor does a good job of keeping the office clean.
I wiped the baby's face clean.
He's a clean young man.
Cats are very clean animals.
Solar power provides clean energy.
Adverb
Somehow, the top of the machine came clean off.
The nail went clean through the wall.
The fish were jumping clean out of the water.
Verb
The carpet needs to be cleaned.
They divide household duties so that she cleans and her husband cooks.
They cleaned the fish and cooked them on the campfire.
skin and clean a rabbit
Recent Examples on the Web
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Other high-end finds include platform Ugg boots that can literally elevate your winter wardrobe, plus a Bissell vacuum that sucks up debris and washes floors clean.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
That's especially proven in season 2, when — after coming clean to her team about holding Sir captive — Gabi's closest allies turn their backs on her.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
To make the most of your can of WD-40, learn about the many ways it can be used to clean both the inside and outside of your home.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
Use the same process to stay on top of deeper cleans.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Dry clean or wash the rest of your clothing and linens, making sure to use hot water in the washer and high heat in the dryer.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Other high-end finds include platform Ugg boots that can literally elevate your winter wardrobe, plus a Bissell vacuum that sucks up debris and washes floors clean.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Original price: $13.99 These Neutrogena pre-moistened facial cleansing towelettes gently remove makeup and dissolve dirt for fresh, clean-looking skin.
—Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
That's especially proven in season 2, when — after coming clean to her team about holding Sir captive — Gabi's closest allies turn their backs on her.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
For care, the brand recommends a gentle machine cycle or hand-washing the dress to clean it, then hanging it to air-dry.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
To make the most of your can of WD-40, learn about the many ways it can be used to clean both the inside and outside of your home.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
The set includes a long stick for full-house cleans, a short handheld for smaller messes, a wall mount, and a convenient charging dock for quick grab-and-go sessions.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
Use the same process to stay on top of deeper cleans.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clean
Cite this Entry
“Clean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clean. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clean
1 of 3 adjective1
: free from dirt or pollution
clean clothes
2
: free of objectionable behavior or language
led a clean life
a clean joke
3
: being such to the fullest degree : complete
made a clean sweep
4
: being precise or distinct : trim
a ship with clean lines
a clean writing style
5
: smooth entry 1 sense 1a
a sharp knife makes a clean cut
clean
2 of 3 adverb1
a
: so as to clean
a new broom sweeps clean
b
: in a clean manner
fight clean
2
: all the way
trout leaping clean out of the water
clean
3 of 3 verb1
: to make or become clean
clean your room
cleaned up for supper
2
: to take or use up the contents or resources of
tourists cleaned out the shops
Medical Definition
clean
1 of 2 adjective1
a
: free from dirt or pollution
b
: free from disease or infectious agents
a pullorum-clean flock
keep installations clean of TB infection
2
: free from smudges or anything that tends to obscure
a clean set of fingerprints
3
of a horse's leg
: free from curbs or bunches below the hock
4
: free from drug addiction
clean
2 of 2 transitive verb1
: to brush (the teeth) with a cleanser (as a dentifrice)
2
: to perform dental prophylaxis on (the teeth)
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