Orderly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun adverb /ˈȯr-dər-lē/ or·der·ly

Meaning & Definition of Orderly

Orderly (adjective)

  1. arranged or disposed in some order or pattern, regular
  2. marked by order, tidy
  3. governed by law, regulated

Orderly (noun)

  1. a soldier assigned to perform various services (such as carrying messages) for a superior officer
  2. a hospital attendant who does routine or heavy work (such as cleaning, carrying supplies, or moving patients)

Orderly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being clean and in good order

    "a small, unpretentious inn offering pleasant, orderly rooms"

    similar: antiseptic, bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, picked up, prim, shipshape, smug, snug, tidied, tidy, trig, trim, uncluttered, well-groomed
    related: dapper, natty, saucy, smart, spiffy, spruce, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, rakish, sleek, streamlined, taut, organized, straight, systematic
    opposite: disheveled, disordered, disorderly, messy, mussed, mussy, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy
    near: scruffy, seedy, shabby, slipshod, sloppy, dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, sordid, squalid, dowdy, frowsy, rumpled, tousled, tumbled, disorganized, unsystematic

  2. following a set method, arrangement, or pattern

    "the consultant developed an orderly procedure that allows us to process our Internet sales much more quickly and efficiently"

    similar: methodical, neat, organized, regular, systematic, systematized
    related: ordered, regularized, standardized, structured, accurate, clocklike, correct, exact, precise, detailed, specific
    opposite: disorganized, haphazard, hit-or-miss, immethodical, irregular, nonsystematic, patternless, planless, systemless, unsystematic
    near: chaotic, disordered, disorderly, shambolic (chiefly British), unordered

Orderly (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in neatly, tidily

    similar: neatly, tidily, trimly, dashingly, nattily, sharply, smartly, snappily, sprucely, elegantly, fashionably, modishly, stylishly, swankily, carefully, fastidiously, fussily, meticulously, cleanly, immaculately, pristinely, spotlessly
    opposite: sloppily, slovenly, dowdily, inelegantly, slatternly, messily, mussily, untidily, scruffily, shabbily, sleazily, dingily, dirtily, filthily, foully, grubbily, nastily

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Orderly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Orderly:

antiseptic, bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, picked up, prim, shipshape, smug, snug, tidied, tidy, trig, trim, uncluttered, well-groomed, methodical, organized, regular, systematic, systematized, neatly, tidily, trimly, dashingly, nattily, sharply, smartly, snappily, sprucely, elegantly, fashionably, modishly, stylishly, swankily, carefully, fastidiously, fussily, meticulously

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Orderly

Words with the opposite meaning of Orderly:

disheveled, disordered, disorderly, messy, mussed, mussy, sloven, slovenly, unkempt, untidy, disorganized, haphazard, hit-or-miss, immethodical, irregular, nonsystematic, patternless, planless, systemless, unsystematic, sloppily, dowdily, inelegantly, slatternly, messily, mussily, untidily, scruffily, shabbily, sleazily

Related Words for Orderly

dapper, natty, saucy, smart, spiffy, spruce, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, rakish, sleek, streamlined, taut, straight, ordered, regularized, standardized, structured, accurate, clocklike, correct, exact, precise, detailed, specific

Near Antonyms of Orderly

scruffy, seedy, shabby, slipshod, sloppy, dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, sordid, squalid, dowdy, frowsy, rumpled, tousled, tumbled, chaotic, shambolic, unordered

Word Forms of Orderly

Inflections: orderlies

Derived words: orderly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Orderly

First known use: 1553

Frequently Asked Questions about Orderly

What does "Orderly" mean?

"Orderly" means arranged or disposed in some order or pattern, regular. As an an adjective, a noun and an adverb, it is defined as: arranged or disposed in some order or pattern, regular. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Orderly"?

Other words for "Orderly" include antiseptic, bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, picked up and prim. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Orderly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Orderly"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Orderly". Common alternatives include antiseptic, bandbox, crisp, groomed, kempt, neat, picked up, prim, shipshape and smug.

What is the opposite of "Orderly"?

Antonyms of "Orderly" include disheveled, disordered, disorderly, messy, mussed, mussy, sloven and slovenly. Near antonyms include scruffy, seedy, shabby and slipshod.

How do you use "Orderly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Orderly" in a sentence: "a small, unpretentious inn offering pleasant, orderly rooms"; "the consultant developed an orderly procedure that allows us to process our Internet sales much more quickly and efficiently".

Is "Orderly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Orderly" can be used as an adjective, a noun and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Orderly"?

"Orderly" is pronounced /ˈȯr-dər-lē/ and divided into syllables as or·der·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Orderly"?

First known use: 1553.