Spotless

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /spɑtlɪs/

Definitions

1. Entirely clean with no dirt or stains ; having no moral faults or free from guilt
2. Without any marks or blemishes, perfectly clean ; possessing an unblemished record or character
3. Free from grime or smudges, immaculately clean ; being blameless or morally impeccable in behavior

Etymology: "Spotless" is about as plain as English compounds get: the noun "spot" with the suffix "-less," meaning "without." Its ancestor in Middle English was "spotles," and a spotless thing is simply one with no spot on it. The word's sense of "completely clean" follows directly from that literal picture of a surface with nothing marring it. The surprise lies in the suffix rather than the word. "-less" comes from the Old English "lēas," which meant "free from" or "lacking," and it was once an independent word with that sense. Because English speakers could attach it to almost any noun, it became one of the most productive endings in the language, which is why so many everyday words like "fearless" or "careless" share its construction.

Synonyms: clean, immaculate, pristine, unblemished, flawless

Antonyms: dirty, filthy, stained, blemished, soiled