noun

whitewash

WYT-wosh

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Whitewash (noun) means a cheap white paint made from lime or chalk mixed with water, used to coat walls and fences. Example: “The barn was covered in peeling whitewash.”

noun

A cheap white paint made from lime or chalk mixed with water, used to coat walls and fences.

"The barn was covered in peeling whitewash."

An attempt to cover up mistakes or wrongdoing and make something look better than it is.

"Critics called the internal report a whitewash designed to protect the board."

A total, one-sided victory in which the losing side fails to score at all.

"England completed a 5-0 whitewash of the series."

verb

To paint something with whitewash.

"They whitewashed the cottage every spring."

To conceal unpleasant facts or wrongdoing in order to protect someone's reputation.

"The documentary was accused of whitewashing the company's environmental record."

"History books once whitewashed the more brutal parts of the era."

How to use whitewash

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLiterally, cheap white paint; figuratively, a cover-up that makes something look cleaner than it really is.

Common mistake

The film-casting sense (casting white actors in roles meant for people of colour) is a distinct, more recent use — context usually makes clear which sense is meant.

Common pairings

whitewash a scandal accused of a whitewash whitewash the walls

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: whitewashes
Third person singular: whitewashes
Past tense: whitewashed

Test yourself on “whitewash” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The barn was covered in peeling _____.

Etymology

The noun combines white with wash; the verb followed from it, first meaning "to paint white" and later picking up the figurative sense of covering up faults.

Synonyms

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hush up gloss over sleek over

Antonyms

blacken

Related words

still black dirty hush bleach char blacken bewray

Frequently asked questions

What does “whitewash” mean?

The word “whitewash” means a cheap white paint made from lime or chalk mixed with water, used to coat walls and fences. In plain terms, literally, cheap white paint; figuratively, a cover-up that makes something look cleaner than it really is.

How do you pronounce “whitewash”?

“Whitewash” is pronounced WYT-wosh (/ˈʍaɪtˌwɑʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “whitewash” in a sentence?

Here is “whitewash” used in a sentence: “The barn was covered in peeling whitewash.”

What part of speech is “whitewash”?

Depending on how it is used, “whitewash” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “whitewash” have?

“Whitewash” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cheap white paint made from lime or chalk mixed with water, used to coat walls and fences.

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still black dirty hush bleach char blacken bewray