Pronunciation

/ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/

Definitions

• Noun: The act of maintaining or preserving something, especially machinery or a building. This can involve regular checks, cleaning, repairs, or updates to ensure its proper functioning or appearance. For example: “The company invests heavily in the maintenance of its facilities.”
• Noun (legal): The financial support provided by one person to another, typically after a divorce or separation, to help cover living expenses. For example: “As part of the divorce settlement, he was ordered to pay monthly maintenance to his ex-wife.”
• Noun (computing): The tasks involved in keeping computer systems and networks operational and up-to-date, including bug fixing, backups, and software upgrades. Example: “The IT department handles all server maintenance during off-hours.”

Phrases

• “Routine maintenance”: Regular, scheduled work done to prevent breakdowns or malfunctions.
• “Maintenance work”: Tasks carried out to keep something in good condition.
• “Maintenance crew/team”: A group of people responsible for upkeep and repair work.
• “Child/spousal maintenance”: The ongoing financial support provided by one person to their former spouse or children following a divorce or separation.

Example Sentences

• Noun (general): “Regular car maintenance will help prevent unexpected breakdowns on the road.”
• Noun (legal): “The judge increased the amount of child maintenance due to changes in the non-custodial parent’s income.”
• Noun (computing): “Due to planned system maintenance, our website will be temporarily unavailable tonight between 10 PM and midnight.”

Synonyms

• Upkeep
• Preservation
• Repair
• Service
• Care
• Support (in legal context)
• Custody (in reference to the care of property or systems)