What does linting mean?
Linting is the act of removing small, loose fibers and accumulated debris from fabric, especially clothing. A sweater, coat, or blanket may need linting because fibers gather on its surface over time. The same word has a specialized technical meaning in computing: code linting is the automated examination of source code to find errors, inconsistent formatting, unsafe practices, or other problems. A linter is the software tool that performs this check, and its findings can help developers improve code quality and maintain consistent standards. The ordinary sense is practical and domestic, while the technical sense is associated with software development and quality assurance. Together, the two meanings present an interesting contrast: both involve looking closely for small unwanted material, though one works on clothing and the other works on computer instructions.
nounThe process of removing lint, loose fibers, and small pieces of dirt from fabric or clothing. In computing, it also refers to the automated analysis of source code to identify errors, style problems, or suspicious patterns.
- The process of removing lint and other loose fibers from fabric or clothing.
- The automated process of checking source code for errors, style violations, or potentially problematic patterns.
"Regular linting of wool sweaters helps keep them looking neat."
"She gave the old jacket a thorough linting before deciding whether to keep it."
"The project's CI pipeline runs code linting on every pull request."
The plural is uncommon; the word is normally used in the singular or as an uncountable activity noun.
"The guide offers separate lintings for wool, cotton, and synthetic fabrics."
The word that describes removing tiny threads from clothes has a second life in software, where it means searching code for problems before they cause trouble.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does linting come from?
The noun lint comes from Middle English, where it referred to small fibers or particles that came away from fabric, particularly wool. The verb lint developed from this noun and means to remove or pick out such particles. The form linting follows the standard English pattern of adding -ing to a verb to form a gerund or verbal noun. In the computing sense, linting developed much later by analogy with the idea of picking out unwanted material from a larger body, here applied to identifying flaws in source code.
Related word forms
How linting is actually used
In everyday clothing contexts, the word is usually used as an uncountable activity noun. In computing, it is common in technical and professional contexts, especially in discussions of static analysis, code quality, and development tools.