Definition

The ability or quality of a substance to clean or remove dirt and stains.

Example

The detergency of the new cleaning product impressed everyone.

Conversation

I was reading about the detergency of different soaps yesterday.

Oh really? What did you find out?

Some soaps have a much higher detergency than others, which makes them more effective.

That makes sense! I guess that's why some brands are so much better at cleaning.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Detergency is formed from "de-" (meaning down or away) and "tergere" (meaning to wipe or clean). The word refers to the action of cleaning or removing dirt.

Memory Tip

Think of 'wiping away' ('tergere') something 'down' or 'away' ('de-') — that's why detergency means the ability to clean.

Visually Confused Words