maintenance
noun
main·te·nance
ˈmānt-nən(t)s 
ˈmān-tə-nən(t)s
1
: the act of maintaining : the state of being maintained : support
The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance.
2
: something that maintains
at least half of them are living parasitically on the other half instead of producing maintenance for themselves—
G. B. Shaw
G. B. Shaw3
: the upkeep of property or equipment
the maintenance of the school
4
: an officious or unlawful intermeddling in a legal suit by assisting either party with means to carry it on
Synonyms
Examples of maintenance in a Sentence
Soon he could take an Underwood apart and put it together blindfolded, a trick that won him the account for maintenance of all the typewriters at Columbia-Presbyterian hospital …
—Ian Frazier, Atlantic, November 1997
The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance.
the costs of routine car maintenance
maintenance of law and order
money for the family's maintenance
Ian Frazier, Atlantic, November 1997
The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance.
the costs of routine car maintenance
maintenance of law and order
money for the family's maintenance
Recent Examples on the Web
Minimum initial deposit From $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the plan
Fees
The $40 annual maintenance fee for variable annuities can be waived for contracts valued at $100,000 or more.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
However, maintenance appointments aren't required after those sessions.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 13 Dec. 2024
American Airlines confirmed that the flight was diverted due to a reported bird strike, and maintenance crews would inspect the aircraft.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
The budget also includes funding for more maintenance staff focused on cleaning and maintaining stations, vehicles and track areas.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for maintenance 
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Liz Knueven, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
However, maintenance appointments aren't required after those sessions.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 13 Dec. 2024
American Airlines confirmed that the flight was diverted due to a reported bird strike, and maintenance crews would inspect the aircraft.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
The budget also includes funding for more maintenance staff focused on cleaning and maintaining stations, vehicles and track areas.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for maintenance
Dictionary Entries Near maintenance
Cite this Entry
“Maintenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maintenance. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maintenance
noun
main·te·nance
ˈmānt-nən(t)s
-ᵊn-ən(t)s
1
: the act of maintaining : the state of being maintained
maintenance of law and order
money for the family's maintenance
2
: something that maintains
3
: the care of property or equipment
workers in charge of maintenance
Medical Definition
maintenance
adjective
main·te·nance
ˈmānt-nən(t)s, -ᵊn-ən(t)s
: designed or adequate to maintain a patient in a stable condition : serving to maintain a gradual process of healing or to prevent a relapse
a maintenance dose
maintenance chemotherapy
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