kleenex

K5L1E1E1N1E1X8
/ˈkli.nɛks//ˈklin.ɛks/

noun

A disposable tissue.

“Could you hand me a kleenex? My nose is running.”

Similar
facial tissuetissue
Less commonScrabble 18
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Word of the Day · Jan 6, 2023

Meanings

kleenex1

nounkleenex (plural kleenexes or (humorous) kleenices)

plural kleenexes · humorous plural kleenices · alternative Kleenex

  1. CanadaUSA disposable tissue.

    Could you hand me a kleenex? My nose is running.

    Synonyms: facial tissue, tissue

Kleenex2

nounKleenex (plural Kleenexes or (humorous) Kleenices)

plural Kleenexes · humorous plural Kleenices

  1. alternativeAlternative form of kleenex.

    She wipes some drivel from his chin with a Kleenex, which she throws away in the bin, then sits and clasps his hand in hers.

    2012, Roland Curram, “Life Changes”, in The Problem with Happiness, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire: Matador, →ISBN, part 1, page 82
    1 more example

    James Cameron stood up and asked Céline, “How did you feel about the movie?” Céline held up her Kleenex. And it was completely tattered, because she’d been crying so much.

    2017 May 18, Mickey Rapkin, “The Oral History of Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’: Controversies, Doubts & ‘Belly Pains’ In the Studio”, in billboard.com

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA disposable tissue.

Similar
facial tissuetissue

Origin

By genericization from the name of brand of tissues trademarked by Cellucotton Products Company (now Kimberly-Clark) in 1924–25. Alteration of clean + -ex.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic كْلِينَكْس
  • كْلِينَكْس (klīneks)generic term for a disposable tissue
Czech papírový kapesník
  • papírový kapesníkgeneric term for a disposable tissue
Finnish paperinenäliina
  • paperinenäliinageneric term for a disposable tissue
French Kleenex
  • Kleenexgeneric term for a disposable tissue
German Tempo
  • Tempogeneric term for a disposable tissue
Hebrew טישו
  • טישו (tíšu)generic term for a disposable tissue
Hungarian zsebkendő, zsepi
  • zsebkendőgeneric term for a disposable tissue
  • zsepigeneric term for a disposable tissue
  • papír zsebkendőgeneric term for a disposable tissue
Polish chusteczka jednorazowa, chusteczka higieniczna
  • chusteczka jednorazowageneric term for a disposable tissue
  • chusteczka higienicznageneric term for a disposable tissue
Spanish kleenex, clínex
  • kleenexgeneric term for a disposable tissue
  • clínexgeneric term for a disposable tissue
Cite this entry
APA

kleenex. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kleenex

MLA

“kleenex.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kleenex. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kleenex,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kleenex.

Source: kleenex on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.