launder
LAWN-der
/ˈlɔːn.dər/
To wash, dry, and iron clothes or linens; figuratively, to process illegally obtained money through legitimate channels.
Implies a complete cleaning cycle rather than just throwing an item into water; carries a strong secondary legal/financial sense.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to the Latin 'lavare', meaning to wash. It entered Old French as 'lavandier' (a person who washes linen) and crossed into Middle English. Over centuries, the noun for the washerperson transformed into the verb 'launder', encompassing the whole process of cleaning and pressing linens.
Word relationships
- wash: Wash refers broadly to cleaning with water, whereas launder often implies the full process of washing, drying, and pressing.
- cleanse: Cleanse is often spiritual or skin-related, whereas launder specifically targets textiles or assets.
- soil: Soil means to make dirty or stain, which is the direct opposite of laundering.
- befoul: Befoul implies contaminating or making filthy.
Commonly confused with
- lounge: Lounge means to relax lazily, whereas launder means to wash garments or funds.
Word family
- laundry (noun): Clothes that need washing or have just been washed.
- launderette (noun): A self-service laundry facility.
- laundress (noun): A woman employed to wash linen and clothes.
Collocations
- launder money
- launder clothes
- professionally launder
- launder delicate fabrics
Idioms & expressions
- launder dirty linen in public
Example sentences
- "The manufacturer recommends that you launder all cotton garments in cold water to preserve color vibrancy." Garment care instructions
- "Investigators revealed how shell companies were created to launder illicit profits through real estate purchases." Financial crime investigation
Memory hook
Think of sitting on a green LAWN while folding clean clothing fresh out of the dryer. Lawn-fresh clothes washed and pressed.
When not to use
Do not use for wiping down hard surfaces like countertops or floors; reserve strictly for textiles or financial assets.
Fun facts
- The financial sense of 'money laundering' emerged during the Prohibition era in America when mobsters bought laundromats to mix illegal cash with coin revenue.
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