Maintenance vs. Maintainance — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 18, 2024
The correct spelling is "Maintenance," meaning the act of maintaining or keeping something in good condition. "Maintainance" is an incorrect spelling and should be avoided.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Maintenance or Maintainance
How to spell Maintenance?
Maintenance
Correct Spelling
Maintainance
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
"Maintenance" contains the word "maintain" followed by "tenance," which sounds like "ten ants," to remember the 'ten' in maintenance.
Think of "maintenance" as maintaining a "ten-ant" building, focusing on the "ten" in the middle.
Associate the word "maintenance" with "sustenance," both ending in "-ance," not "-ance."
Split it into three parts: "Main-Ten-Ance." Each section has its specific spelling to remember.
Just like "complaint" and "restraint," "maintenance" also has the 'ten' in the middle, not 'tain.'
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How Do You Spell Maintainance Correctly?
Incorrect: She is responsible for the maintainance of the building.
Correct: She is responsible for the maintenance of the building.
Incorrect: Annual maintainance checks are essential for safety.
Correct: Annual maintenance checks are essential for safety.
Incorrect: He works in the maintainance department.
Correct: He works in the maintenance department.
Incorrect: The company has a strict maintainance schedule for all its equipment.
Correct: The company has a strict maintenance schedule for all its equipment.
Incorrect: The car requires regular maintainance to run smoothly.
Correct: The car requires regular maintenance to run smoothly.
Maintenance Definitions
Maintenance refers to the act of keeping something in good condition.
Regular car maintenance can prevent breakdowns.
In legal terms, maintenance refers to the provision of financial support.
He pays maintenance for his children.
Maintenance can also mean taking steps to prevent disrepair.
The bridge is closed for maintenance.
Maintenance is the act of sustaining a particular condition or level.
Weight maintenance requires consistent exercise.
In technology, maintenance describes software updates and bug fixes.
The app is down for maintenance.
The process of preserving a condition or situation or the state of being preserved
Crucial conditions for the maintenance of democratic government
The provision of financial support for a person's living expenses, or the support so provided
A chance of going to university with fees and maintenance paid
The offence of aiding a party in a legal action without lawful cause.
The act of maintaining or the state of being maintained
Nutrients essential to the maintenance of good health.
The work of keeping something in proper condition; upkeep
Car maintenance.
Provision of support or livelihood
Took over the maintenance of her family.
Means of support or livelihood
Was ordered to pay maintenance for both children.
(Law) The wrongful aiding of another in the pursuit or defense of a lawsuit, especially in jurisdictions where nonparties are legally prohibited to provide financial assistance.
Actions performed to keep some machine or system functioning or in service.
(legal) A tort and (in some jurisdictions) an offence committed when a third party who does not have a bona fide interest in a lawsuit provides help or acquires an interest to a litigant's lawsuit.
Alimony, a periodical payment or a lump sum made or ordered to be made to a spouse after a divorce.
(legal) Child support.
Money required or spent to provide for the needs of a person or a family.
(biology) The natural process which keeps an organism alive.
The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.
Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor and the maintenance of his service, is granted to God.
That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.
Those of better fortune not making learning their maintenance.
An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting either party with money or means to carry it on. See Champerty.
Those actions required for the care of machinery, a building, etc., to keep it clean and in proper functioning condition, and to prevent or forestall damage due to normal use.
Payments, such as child support or alimony, to a dependent child not living with one or to a divorced wife.
Activity involved in maintaining something in good working order;
He wrote the manual on car care
Means of maintenance of a family or group
Court-ordered support paid by one spouse to another after they are separated
The act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence;
They were in want of sustenance
Fishing was their main sustainment
Maintenance Meaning in a Sentence
The software requires maintenance to keep it updated and secure.
She scheduled a maintenance check for the air conditioning unit.
He learned about car maintenance from his father.
Maintenance of good health involves a balanced diet and exercise.
Regular maintenance of your bicycle will ensure it lasts a long time.
The maintenance team did an excellent job repairing the roof.
Proper maintenance can prevent expensive repairs in the future.
Maintenance of public parks is important for community enjoyment.
The building's maintenance costs have increased this year.
The city's maintenance crew is responsible for clearing snow from the streets.
Computer maintenance is essential to avoid viruses and other issues.
Financial maintenance involves regular review and budgeting.
The maintenance of peace requires constant diplomatic effort.
Maintenance of a swimming pool requires regular cleaning and chemical checks.
The hotel prides itself on the maintenance of its beautiful gardens.
Maintenance of historical sites helps preserve our heritage for future generations.
School maintenance workers were busy preparing for the new year.
Aircraft maintenance is critical for passenger safety.
Regular maintenance checks can help identify problems before they worsen.
Garden maintenance is easier with the right tools.
The museum's maintenance team is preparing for the new exhibit.
Road maintenance is more challenging during the winter months.
He took a course in home maintenance to fix things around the house.
The maintenance of a positive attitude can help in stressful situations.
After years of neglect, the bridge is in desperate need of maintenance.
Maintenance Idioms & Phrases
Preventive maintenance
Maintenance carried out to prevent problems before they occur.
Their preventive maintenance plan for the machinery saved them from costly breakdowns.
Maintenance-free
Not requiring any maintenance.
They installed maintenance-free decking that doesn't need to be painted or stained.
Maintenance man
Someone responsible for repairs and general upkeep of a building or area.
The maintenance man fixed the leak in the roof quickly.
Maintenance dose
A dose of medication that maintains or balances its effect.
After the initial treatment, the patient was put on a maintenance dose.
High maintenance
Requiring a lot of work, attention, or money.
The luxury car was beautiful but too high maintenance for him to keep.
Scheduled maintenance
Maintenance that is planned at specific intervals.
The factory shuts down annually for scheduled maintenance.
Low maintenance
Requiring little work or effort to maintain.
She preferred having low maintenance plants in her garden that didn't need much care.
Annual maintenance
Maintenance that occurs once a year.
The annual maintenance of the heating system ensures it runs efficiently during winter.
Carrying out maintenance
Performing the work of keeping something in good condition.
The crew is carrying out maintenance on the railway tracks this weekend.
For maintenance reasons
Due to the need for maintenance.
The park is closed for maintenance reasons.
Routine maintenance
Regular maintenance to keep something in good working condition.
Routine maintenance of the HVAC system is essential for its efficiency.
Maintenance work
Work done to maintain or repair.
The maintenance work on the bridge will last two months.
In maintenance
In the process of being maintained.
The aircraft is in maintenance and not available for flights.
Under maintenance
Currently being maintained or repaired.
The community pool is closed and under maintenance until further notice.
Deferred maintenance
Maintenance that has been postponed, usually due to budget constraints.
The school district faced criticism for deferred maintenance of its buildings.
Maintenance of effort
The effort required to maintain a certain level of service or condition.
The city pledged a maintenance of effort in public transportation funding.
Maintenance crew
A group of workers responsible for maintenance.
The maintenance crew worked overnight to restore power after the storm.
Maintenance period
A specific time during which maintenance is performed.
The equipment will be offline during the maintenance period next week.
Without maintenance
Not receiving necessary maintenance.
The building deteriorated quickly without maintenance.
Beyond maintenance
In such bad condition that maintenance is no longer viable.
The old factory was beyond maintenance and had to be demolished.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Maintenance?
Derived from the verb "maintain," signifying the action or process of keeping something in a particular state or condition.
What is the pronunciation of Maintenance?
/ˈmeɪn.tən.əns/
What is the root word of Maintenance?
The root word is "maintain."
Which preposition is used with Maintenance?
"Of," as in "maintenance of equipment."
What is the verb form of Maintenance?
Maintain.
What is the singular form of Maintenance?
Maintenance.
Which vowel is used before Maintenance?
Often 'a' as in "a maintenance task."
What is the plural form of Maintenance?
Maintenance is usually a non-count noun and does not have a plural form.
Is Maintenance a noun or adjective?
Noun.
Which conjunction is used with Maintenance?
And, or, but.
Is Maintenance a countable noun?
Usually not, it's generally a non-count noun.
Is Maintenance a collective noun?
No.
Is the word “Maintenance” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be either, depending on the sentence.
Which article is used with Maintenance?
A or the.
Is the word Maintenance imperative?
No.
How do we divide Maintenance into syllables?
Main-te-nance
Which determiner is used with Maintenance?
A or the.
Is Maintenance an adverb?
No.
Is Maintenance a vowel or consonant?
It's a word, not a single letter.
Is the Maintenance term a metaphor?
No, although it can be used metaphorically.
How many syllables are in Maintenance?
Three.
What is a stressed syllable in Maintenance?
The first syllable, "Main."
What is the opposite of Maintenance?
Neglect, deterioration.
Is Maintenance an abstract noun?
Yes.
Is Maintenance a negative or positive word?
Generally neutral, but can be seen as positive when referring to upkeep and care.
How is Maintenance used in a sentence?
"The car needs regular maintenance to run efficiently."
Is the word Maintenance a gerund?
No.
What part of speech is Maintenance?
Noun.
What is another term for Maintenance?
Upkeep, preservation.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.