Is laundry a countable noun?

Usually, no. It is most often uncountable: "I did the laundry."

What is the difference between laundry and washing?

Laundry usually means clothes to wash, or the washing task. Washing is a more general word for cleaning.

Can laundry mean a shop or service?

Yes. A laundry can mean a place or service that washes clothes for you.

Is laundry used in daily English?

Yes, it is very common in everyday speech and writing.

← Dictionary

laundry

/ˈlɔːn.dri/

IELTSAcademic

noun

Clothes, sheets, and other fabric items that need washing. It can also mean the task or business of washing and drying them.

I have to do the laundry today.
Her laundry is still in the basket.
The hotel offers laundry service.

Adinary Nuance

Laundry is the general word for clothes and other items to wash, or the washing work itself. It is broader than washing, which can mean any act of cleaning with water. It is also different from wash as a verb; you do the laundry, but you wash clothes. In business or hotel contexts, laundry can mean the service, not just the clothes.

In other languages

Vietnamese: quần áo giặt
Spanish: colada
Chinese: 待洗衣物
Japanese: 洗濯物
Korean: 빨랫감

Etymology

Laundry came into English from Old French in the Middle Ages. It is related to words for washing and a place where washing is done.

Common phrases

do the laundrylaundry basketlaundry roomlaundry service

Synonyms

washing wash washables

Related words

detergent washer dry cleaning linen

Frequently asked questions

Is laundry a countable noun?: Usually, no. It is most often uncountable: "I did the laundry."
What is the difference between laundry and washing?: Laundry usually means clothes to wash, or the washing task. Washing is a more general word for cleaning.
Can laundry mean a shop or service?: Yes. A laundry can mean a place or service that washes clothes for you.
Is laundry used in daily English?: Yes, it is very common in everyday speech and writing.