noun

grooming

GROO-mihng

noun

Taking care of one's appearance and hygiene.

"Good grooming matters in a job interview."

Cleaning and brushing an animal, especially a horse or dog.

"The stable offers grooming services for boarded horses."

The criminal act of manipulating a child or vulnerable person over time to exploit them, especially sexually.

"The school ran a workshop to help staff spot signs of online grooming."

How to Use Grooming

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCaring for appearance or an animal's coat, or, in a serious criminal sense, manipulating a vulnerable person for exploitation.

Common mistake

Context matters enormously here — "personal grooming" and "grooming a child" are entirely different meanings; never conflate them.

groomings plural

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Good _____ matters in a job interview.

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