vacuum cleaner

noun

: a household appliance for cleaning floors, carpets, upholstery, etc. by suction

called also vacuum sweeper

Examples of vacuum cleaner in a Sentence

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.
Getting out of this vacuum cleaner will require rapid action on multiple fronts. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026 Down there in the air the buzz of the vacuum cleaner on carpets and the thumping of carpets against the walls. Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 The new tariff will also apply to a range of Canadian exports, including flags, bookbinding materials, some types of vacuum cleaners and Christmas ornaments. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 How To Deep Clean Stained Wood Baseboards For stained wood baseboards, Matthews advises dusting using a dry microfiber cloth and Murphy’s Oil or a wood cleaning oil (remove excessive dirt and crumbs with a vacuum cleaner first). Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vacuum cleaner

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacuum cleaner was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Vacuum cleaner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacuum%20cleaner. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

vacuum cleaner

noun
: an electrical appliance for cleaning (as floors or rugs) by suction
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