Word
Definitions
01upkeep of things
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the work of keeping a building, machine, or system in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly.
n. the process of preserving a condition or situation or the state of being preserved; specifically, the routine functional upkeep of property or equipment.
日本語:メンテナンス※
“The school was closed for a week for essential building maintenance.”
“The airline's rigorous maintenance schedule ensures that every aircraft undergoes a thorough mechanical inspection after a set number of flight hours.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun or as an attributive noun before another word like 'crew' or 'costs'.
Antonyms
02financial support
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law British English · Formal
n. money that someone pays regularly to help support a child or a former husband or wife after a divorce.
n. financial provision made by one person for another, typically following the dissolution of a marriage or for the upbringing of a child.
“He has been paying monthly maintenance to his ex-wife since their divorce.”
“The court ordered the defendant to provide substantial maintenance payments to ensure the children could remain in their current private school.”
Teaching tip
In American English, 'alimony' is more common for a spouse, while 'child support' is used for children; 'maintenance' is the standard legal term in the UK.
Synonyms
03biological process
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Biology Technical · Academic
n. the natural processes that keep a living thing alive and healthy.
n. the collection of metabolic processes required to keep an organism alive and functioning at a constant level.
日本語:維持※
“The body uses a lot of energy just for basic cell maintenance.”
“Even during periods of inactivity, the organism requires a baseline caloric intake to support essential cellular maintenance and repair.”
Synonyms
04regular medication
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Medicine Technical · Dialect
n. medicine that a person takes every day to manage a long-term health condition.
n. a course of medical treatment or medication intended to keep a chronic condition under control rather than to cure it.
“She takes her maintenance pills every morning to keep her blood pressure stable.”
“The physician adjusted the maintenance dose of the insulin to better manage the patient's fluctuating glucose levels.”
Teaching tip
This sense is particularly common in Philippine English as a colloquial way to refer to daily prescription drugs.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “maintenance” in context.
Noun
01. maintenance of
“The maintenance of law and order is the primary responsibility of the local police force.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“Maintenance records show the engine was involved in four suspected bird strikes over the previous year, with remains found after two of them.” “With garden maintenance becoming unmanageable, she became terrified of eviction.” “Air India says repairs were "carried out in accordance with Boeing-approved maintenance procedures" and that "the aircraft was returned to service only after applicable airworthiness requirements had been satisfied".” Etymology
From Middle English mayntenaunce, from Old French maintenance, from maintenir, from Latin manus tenēre (“to hold in the hand”). By surface analysis, maintain + -ance. Note that maintain has undergone a sound and spelling change, hence is spelt with -tain-, rather than the -ten- still found in maintenance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/maintenance
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0