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whitewash

WITE-wosh /ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/

verbnounC2GRESAT

informalcritical

(verb) To conceal unpleasant or incriminating facts about (someone or something); (noun) A deliberate concealment of facts to hide errors or wrongdoing.

This term carries a strong negative connotation, implying a deliberate attempt to cover up wrongdoing, often by presenting a misleadingly positive or innocent picture. It suggests a lack of transparency and an intent to deceive.

The story behind the word. The term 'whitewash' literally refers to a mixture of lime and water used to whiten walls or surfaces, giving them a clean, fresh appearance. By the 1800s, it gained its figurative meaning of concealing flaws or making something appear better than it is, much like painting over dirt or cracks to make a wall look new.

Word relationships

cover-up: A concerted attempt to keep something secret.
concealment: The action of hiding something or preventing it from being known.
gloss over: To deal with (a subject) or describe (an event) without details or in a way that avoids its unpleasant aspects.

expose: To reveal something hidden or secret.
uncover: To discover something previously hidden or secret.
reveal: To make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others.

Commonly confused with

spin: Spin is about presenting facts favorably; whitewash is about hiding or denying facts entirely.

Collocations

official whitewash
political whitewash
attempt to whitewash
accused of whitewashing

Example sentences

"Critics claimed the independent inquiry was nothing more than a whitewash designed to protect high-ranking officials." Referring to an official investigation.
"The company attempted to whitewash its history of environmental pollution with a new green marketing campaign." Describing an attempt to conceal past actions.

Memory hook

Imagine literally painting a dirty, stained wall with 'white wash' to make it look clean and innocent, hiding the mess underneath. Paint over dirt

When not to use

Do not use 'whitewash' for simple positive framing or honest attempts to improve an image. It implies a cover-up of something genuinely bad.

Fun facts

Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' famously features Tom tricking his friends into whitewashing a fence for him.
The term is often used in political journalism to describe investigations deemed insufficient or biased.

Explore more words

gloss over, greenwash, obfuscate, misleading, equivocate, deceptive