whitewash
|white-wash|
🇺🇸
/ˈwaɪtwɑːʃ/
🇬🇧
/ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/
cover (with white) / conceal faults
Etymology
'whitewash' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'white' and 'wash', where 'white' meant 'pale/bright' and 'wash' meant 'to wash or coat'.
'whitewash' in Middle English appeared as compounds like 'whitewasch' or 'white-waschen' and developed into the modern form 'whitewash' through regularization of spelling and pronunciation.
Initially, it meant 'a wash with lime to whiten surfaces', but over time it evolved to include the figurative sense of 'a superficial or dishonest covering up' as well as the literal meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a cheap white paint made of lime used for whitening walls, fences, etc.
They applied whitewash to the barn every spring.
Synonyms
Noun 2
an act or instance of covering up wrongdoing or presenting something in a deceptively favorable way.
The official inquiry turned out to be a whitewash.
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Antonyms
Verb 1
to coat with whitewash (apply a thin, white paint or lime).
They whitewash the cottage every few years to keep it looking fresh.
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Verb 2
to deliberately hide or minimize wrongdoing, mistakes, or unpleasant facts; to gloss over.
The committee tried to whitewash the financial irregularities.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/09/16 04:41