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maintenance definition

main·te·nance (mānt′'n əns)

noun

  1. a maintaining or being maintained; upkeep, support, defense, etc.; specif., the work of keeping a building, machinery, etc. in a state of good repair
  2. means of support or sustenance; livelihood a job that barely provides a maintenance
  3. Law the act of interfering unlawfully in a suit between others by helping either party, as by giving money, to carry it on

Etymology: ME maintenaunce < OFr maintenance

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business maintenance definition - business

law maintenance definition - legal

medical maintenance definition - medical

maintenance Synonyms

maintenance

n.

  1. The act of maintaining

    keeping, sustaining, continuance, upholding, carrying; see also preservation, support 3, subsistence 1.

  2. The means of maintaining

    sustenance, livelihood, resources; see pay 1, 2, subsistence 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

maintenance Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • biodiversity: The maintenance of biodiversity can therefore be seen as protecting an important economic resource.

Converse of object

  • require: The existing route is a relative easy walk which requires little maintenance.

Adjective modifier

  • preventative: During the trip preventative maintenance is carried out by our drivers who are trained at our workshop in the UK.

Modifies a noun

  • grant: Means tested maintenance grants are also available for some UK students whose training is funded by an NHS Bursary.

Noun used with modifier

  • methadone: They should be read by all those interested in methadone maintenance and drug treatment in general.
maintenance usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"maintenance." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/maintenance>

APA Style

maintenance. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/maintenance

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