Uncleanables

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Items or substances that cannot be adequately cleaned or sanitized due to their nature or condition; things impervious to cleaning processes ; objects or areas that resist effective removal of dirt, stains, or contaminants
2. Things that defy thorough cleansing by ordinary or special methods; materials or surfaces that remain dirty despite attempted cleaning ; elements inherently difficult or impossible to restore to cleanliness
3. Entities incapable of being cleaned satisfactorily because of their composition, damage, or environment; possessions or spaces that retain dirt or impurities regardless of effort ; components that are unaffected by cleaning attempts and remain soiled or contaminated

Etymology: "Uncleanables" is a plain English formation: the adjective "unclean" (from Old English "unclǣne," literally "not clean," with the negative prefix "un-" attached to "clean") plus the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being." Put together, "uncleanable" means "not capable of being cleaned," and the plural noun "uncleanables" simply names a group of such things. The pattern is a familiar one. English has long produced negative words of this kind, such as "unbreakable" or "undrinkable," by combining "un-" with a root and then adding "-able." The base word "clean" itself has Germanic roots, from the Old English "clǣne," meaning pure or free from dirt, and it is a native English word rather than a borrowing. The plural "uncleanables" appears to be a modern coinage, so its history is recent. The word belongs to the category of ad hoc formations that speakers create when they need a single term for a set of things that resist cleaning.

Synonyms: uncleanable

Antonyms: cleanable, washable, clean