maintenance

noun

main·​te·​nance ˈmānt-nən(t)s How to pronounce maintenance (audio)
ˈmān-tə-nən(t)s
Synonyms of maintenance
1
: the act of maintaining : the state of being maintained : support
The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance.
2
: something that maintains
… at least half of them are living parasitically on the other half instead of producing maintenance for themselves.—George Bernard Shaw
3
: the upkeep of property or equipment
the maintenance of the school
4
: an officious or unlawful intermeddling in a legal suit by assisting either party with means to carry it on

Synonyms of maintenance

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Examples of maintenance in a Sentence

Soon he could take an Underwood apart and put it together blindfolded, a trick that won him the account for maintenance of all the typewriters at Columbia-Presbyterian hospital … —Ian Frazier, Atlantic, November 1997
The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance. the costs of routine car maintenance maintenance of law and order money for the family's maintenance
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Three men are charged, and one is still at large in connection with the pistol-whipping and robbery of a 16-year-old boy Thursday at a Vernon Hills Park District maintenance facility, authorities said Sunday. — Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 Those components can add complexity and create additional areas that require maintenance. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 What’s more, the balm’s spa-like scent of jasmine, rose-geranium, and basil brings a dose of aromatherapy to mature-skin maintenance. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026 The maintenance fees are $1,213 a month, which gets you access to basement storage, a bike-storage area, and a full-time super. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maintenance

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from maintenir — see maintain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maintenance was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing maintenance

Browse Nearby Words

maintainor
maintenance
maintenance bond
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maintenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maintenance. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

maintenance

noun
main·​te·​nance ˈmānt-nən(t)s How to pronounce maintenance (audio)
-ᵊn-ən(t)s
1
: the act of maintaining : the state of being maintained
maintenance of law and order
money for the family's maintenance
2
: something that maintains
3
: the care of property or equipment
workers in charge of maintenance

Medical Definition

maintenance

adjective
main·​te·​nance ˈmānt-nən(t)s, -ᵊn-ən(t)s How to pronounce maintenance (audio)
: designed or adequate to maintain a patient in a stable condition : serving to maintain a gradual process of healing or to prevent a relapse
a maintenance dose
maintenance chemotherapy

Legal Definition

maintenance

noun
main·​te·​nance
1
a
: the act of providing basic and necessary support
b
: the state of having such support
2
: a financial means of providing necessary assistance: as
a
: alimony
b
: support
3
: the necessities of life provided for by payment of maintenance
4
: the upkeep of property or equipment
5
: unsought and unnecessary meddling in a lawsuit by assisting either party with means to carry it on compare champerty

More from Merriam-Webster on maintenance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about maintenance

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