laundry
UK: ˈlɔːndri | US: ˈlɔːndri
n. Clothes or linens that need to be washed, are being washed, or have been washed.
n. A place or business where clothes and linens are washed and ironed.
The word laundry traces back to Latin lavare (to wash), which evolved into Old French lavanderie (a place for washing). In Middle English, it was adapted to laundry, retaining the core idea of washing but shifting to specifically denote the act or place of cleaning clothes. The suffix -ry solidifies its noun form, linking it to other words describing places or functions (e.g., bakery).
She sorted the laundry into whites and colors before washing.
The hotel offers same-day laundry service for guests.
He forgot to pick up his laundry from the cleaners.
The smell of fresh laundry filled the room.
Modern laundry machines save time and water compared to hand-washing.