vacuum cleaner

noun

: a household appliance for cleaning floors, carpets, upholstery, etc. by suction

called also vacuum sweeper

Examples of vacuum cleaner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some dogs fear brooms, vacuum cleaners or other household products, particularly if they’ve been hurt or abused in the past. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 Regularly pulling out a clunky upright vacuum cleaner to tidy up floor mats and car seats is just unrealistic. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 The box also holds a powerful 16,000-Pa vacuum cleaner for sucking up debris inside the car. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 6 July 2026 Check the instructions on your vacuum for its use on powders, says Ellis, as some vacuum cleaners cannot handle the fine particles, and others may blow the dust everywhere. — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for vacuum cleaner

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacuum cleaner was in 1903

Rhymes for vacuum cleaner

See All Rhymes for vacuum cleaner

Browse Nearby Words

vacuum braker
vacuum cleaner
vacuum coffeemaker
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vacuum cleaner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacuum%20cleaner. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

vacuum cleaner

noun
: an electrical appliance for cleaning (as floors or rugs) by suction

More from Merriam-Webster on vacuum cleaner

Nglish: Translation of vacuum cleaner for Spanish Speakers

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