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Definition of kleenex

kleenex

/ˈkliː.nɛks/
klee · nex
Plural:kleenexes
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kleenex Lexical Profile

kleenex Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A piece of soft, disposable paper tissue used primarily for blowing one's nose or for cosmetic purposes.

Example

"She reached into her purse to grab a kleenex before sneezing."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kleenex

Word Nuance & Usage

Although 'Kleenex' is a registered trademark for a specific brand of facial tissue, it is widely used in everyday English (especially in North America) as a genericized term for any tissue, regardless of the manufacturer.

• Nearby Words

klamath
klaralven
klaxon
kleenex
klepto
kleptocrat
kleptomania

Word Origin & Etymology

Introduced in 1924 by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the name was formed by playfully altering the word 'clean' to 'Kleen' and adding the commercial suffix '-ex', mirroring the company's earlier product, Kotex.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kleenex. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kleenex
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