# grooming

/ˈɡɹumɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡɹˈuːmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grooming
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. personal hygiene

noun · CEFR B2

the things you do to keep yourself clean and looking neat, like brushing your hair or washing.

For teachers: the practice of maintaining personal hygiene and a neat physical appearance.

- The company has very high standards for the personal grooming of its staff.
- The airline's strict grooming policy requires all cabin crew to maintain a polished and professional appearance while in uniform.

Usage: Usually uncountable.

### 2. animal care

noun · CEFR B2

the act of cleaning an animal, especially by brushing its fur or skin.

For teachers: the activity of cleaning and brushing the coat of an animal, such as a horse or dog.

- Regular grooming helps keep your dog's coat healthy and shiny.
- Daily grooming is essential for stabled horses to prevent skin irritation and ensure the coat remains free of debris.

Usage: Often used in the context of pets or livestock.

### 3. social animal behaviour

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

when animals, like monkeys, clean each other to show friendship or stay healthy.

For teachers: a social activity in which animals clean or maintain each other's body or appearance, often to reinforce social bonds.

- Monkeys spend a lot of time grooming each other to strengthen their social group.
- In many primate species, mutual grooming serves as a vital mechanism for reducing tension and establishing hierarchies within the troop.

Usage: Often referred to as 'social grooming' or 'allogrooming'.

### 4. professional preparation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the process of training or preparing someone for a high-level job or role.

For teachers: the act of preparing or training a person for a specific future role, particularly for a position of leadership.

- She is being groomed for the position of CEO when the current boss retires.
- The board spent years on the grooming of the vice president, ensuring he was ready to take over the company's international operations.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice ('being groomed for').

### 5. predatory manipulation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the act of becoming friends with a child or vulnerable person to trick them or hurt them later.

For teachers: the process of building an emotional connection with a vulnerable person to lower their inhibitions for the purpose of sexual abuse or exploitation.

- The police gave a talk at the school about the dangers of online grooming.
- The prosecution provided evidence of a long period of grooming, during which the defendant used social media to gain the victim's trust.

Teaching tip: This is a very serious and sensitive term; learners should use it only in legal or safeguarding contexts.

## Examples

- Regular grooming keeps your dog's coat shiny and healthy.
- Monkeys spend a significant portion of their day engaged in social grooming to strengthen group bonds.
- While individual grooming is essential for hygiene, many primates utilize mutual grooming as a sophisticated mechanism for conflict resolution and maintaining social hierarchies within the troop.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.