Whitewash

/ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/ noun, verb, slang

noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white.
  • Grammar: whitewash is listed as noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: absolve, acquit, airbrushing, allow for.
  • Useful contrasts: acknowledge, bare plaster, blackwash.
  • Usage evidence: The politician tried to whitewash the poor job he did dealing with the coronavirus.

How to use "whitewash"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whitewash" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whitewash" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whitewash" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "whitewash" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "whitewash" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "absolve" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "whitewash", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white. uncountable

    "For walls plaster gave a smooth white surface; or if it was not sufficiently white, or had become discoloured, it could be brightened up with a coat of whitewash or paint."

  2. 2
    a specious or deceptive clearing that attempts to gloss over failings and defects wordnet
  3. 3
    A thing used to hide mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; also (often politics), an act of hiding mistakes or creating an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; especially, a campaign, investigation, etc., which intentionally hides or overlooks unfavourable facts. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "“She has developed an arrogance of power,” Mr. Richardson said by telephone during a layover in Tokyo on his way back to New Mexico from Myanmar. “I’ve known her a long time and am fond of her, but she basically is unwilling to listen to bad news, and I don’t want to be part of a whitewash.”"

  4. 4
    wash consisting of lime and size in water; used for whitening walls and other surfaces wordnet
  5. 5
    An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court. countable, figuratively, uncountable
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    a defeat in which the losing person or team fails to score wordnet
  2. 7
    A complete victory or series of victories without suffering any losses; a clean sweep; also, a victory or series of victories by a very large margin. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "For the first time in a long time, Australia are being threatened with the prospect of a 5-0 whitewash"

  3. 8
    The most basic type of thickening agent, consisting of flour blended with water to make a paste. uncountable
  4. 9
    A preparation for making the skin look lighter. countable, historical

    "I have heard a whole Sermon against a White-wash."

  5. 10
    Any of several medicinal preparations for treating skin diseases consisting of a mixture of a metallic compound (such as one of lead, sulfur, or zinc) and water. countable, obsolete
  6. 11
    White wine, especially Madeira or sherry, drunk after dinner or after taking claret and port; (countable) a glass of such wine. obsolete, slang, uncountable

    "The bottles, however, were port bottles, but contained mushroom ketchup; and we can only say with regard to the 15s. sherry, that it would have made an admirable "whitewash," as Sheridan's glass is still sometimes called, […]"

Verb
  1. 1
    To paint (a building, a wall, etc.) a bright white with whitewash (noun noun sense 1). transitive

    "The houses looked very bright after they had whitewashed the whole neighbourhood."

  2. 2
    exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data wordnet
  3. 3
    To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people. derogatory, figuratively, transitive

    "If you appreciate historical accuracy and fair inclusion, don't go see this film [Stonewall (2015)]. If you don’t want to fuel the economy at another Hollywood attempt of whitewashing American history, don't give any aspect of this film a single dime or promotion."

  4. 4
    cover with whitewash wordnet
  5. 5
    To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people.; To cast a white actor in a role for a person of colour in (a film, television programme, etc.). derogatory, figuratively, transitive

    "From Scarlett Johansson's heroine in the remake of the anime classic to Tilda Swinton as a Himalayan high priest in Doctor Strange, the film industry stands accused of whitewashing Asian characters and culture. Does it have a defence? [subtitle] […] Swinton replied that Dr Strange's writers were seeking to avoid the tired Orientalist stereotype of the "wise old Eastern geezer" or "Fu Manchu type". […] In other words, it was whitewashing in the name of diversity."

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error wordnet
  2. 7
    To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people.; To make over (someone of colour) so that they appear more white, for example, by applying lightening makeup to their skin or digitally manipulating an image of them. derogatory, figuratively, transitive

    "One of Naomi Osaka's sponsors has been forced to apologise after depicting the Japanese tennis star, who is half-Haitian, with pale skin in an advertisement. […] The company said it had not intended to "whitewash" the athlete, […] The ad, which also features her compatriot Kei Nishikori, drew criticism on social media, with many users accusing Nissin of whitewashing Osaka, whose mother is Japanese."

  3. 8
    To cover or coat (something) with a white substance, as if with whitewash (noun noun sense 1); also, to light up (something) with white light. figuratively, literary, poetic, transitive
  4. 9
    To clear (someone's) debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court; also, to clear or write off (a debt). figuratively, transitive

    "Meanwhile, Sam, having been formally introduced to the whitewashed gentleman and his friends, as the offspring of Mr. Weller, of the Belle Savage, was treated with marked distinction, and invited to regale himself with them in honour of the occasion—an invitation which he was by no means backward in accepting."

  5. 10
    To hide (someone's) mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc., for (someone); also, to intentionally hide or overlook (mistakes, unfavourable facts, wrongdoing, etc.). figuratively, often, transitive

    "In his sermon, the minister didn’t try to whitewash over the sins of his church."

  6. 11
    To achieve a complete victory or series of victories over (an opponent) without suffering any losses; also, to achieve a victory or series of victories over (an opponent) by a very large margin. figuratively, informal, transitive

    "Australia whitewashed the West Indies 3–0."

  7. 12
    To make (the face, etc.) look lighter with makeup or a similar preparation. archaic, historical, transitive
  8. 13
    Synonym of bleach (“to treat (fabric) with a substance which lightens or whitens”). obsolete, transitive
  9. 14
    To paint bright white with whitewash (noun noun sense 1). intransitive
  10. 15
    To have debts cleared through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court. figuratively, intransitive
  11. 16
    Of bricks: to become encrusted with a white layer of soluble salts due to efflorescence. archaic, intransitive

Synonyms

All synonyms
absolveacquitairbrushingallow forallowanceamnesty

Antonyms

acknowledgebare plasterblackwashdisclose

Example

"The politician tried to whitewash the poor job he did dealing with the coronavirus."

Common questions

What does "whitewash" mean?

A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white.

What is a synonym for "whitewash"?

Common synonyms include: absolve, acquit, airbrushing, allow for, allowance, amnesty.

How do you use "whitewash" in a sentence?

The politician tried to whitewash the poor job he did dealing with the coronavirus.

How do you pronounce "whitewash"?

Pronounced /ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/.

Etymology

The noun is derived from white (adjective) + wash (noun). Noun noun sense 5.1 (“medicinal preparation for treating skin diseases”) is a calque of New Latin lōtiō alba (literally “white wash”). The verb is derived partly from white (adjective) + wash (verb), and partly from the noun.

More for "whitewash"

Synonyms

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