laundering
gb/lˈɔndɚɪŋ/ us/lˈɔndɚɪŋ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
legal
C1
process
1
concealing illegal money
Hiding where illegal money came from so that it looks legal.
Usage pattern:
[money/assets/proceeds] laundering; laundering [money/assets/proceeds]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse laundering money with simply transferring or saving legal money; it involves hiding an illegal origin.
Synonyms
cleaning (Informal metaphor for making illegal money appear legal.)
|
legitimization (Broader term; does not always imply crime.)
Collocations
money laundering
|anti-money-laundering rules
|laundering scheme
|laundering operation
|laundering charges
|laundering investigation
|laundering network
|laundering through shell companies
|drug-money laundering
|laundering of proceeds
Themes
crime
|finance
|law
|business
Examples
- Prosecutors alleged laundering of drug profits through several restaurants.
- The bank was fined for failing to detect laundering by organized crime groups.
- New regulations target laundering through cryptocurrency exchanges.
Learner examples
- The gang used fake companies for laundering.
- She was arrested on laundering charges.
Noun
B2
process
2
washing clothes and linens
Washing clothes, sheets, or other cloth items.
Usage pattern:
[clothing/linen/textiles] laundering; laundering [clothes/sheets/uniforms]
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, people more often say laundry or washing; laundering can sound more formal or technical for clothes.
Synonyms
washing (More common and general in everyday speech.)
|
cleaning (Broader; can refer to many things, not only textiles.)
Antonyms
soiling (Making something dirty rather than cleaning it.)
Collocations
commercial laundering
|professional laundering
|home laundering
|machine laundering
|linen laundering
|laundering service
|laundering instructions
|regular laundering
|laundering process
|laundering facility
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|housework
|services
Examples
- The label says the jacket is suitable for machine laundering.
- Hotels often outsource the laundering of sheets and towels.
- Frequent laundering can fade dark clothes.
Learner examples
- This shirt needs gentle laundering.
- The hotel pays a company for towel laundering.
Noun
C1
process
3
disguising questionable origins
Making something doubtful or dishonest look acceptable by hiding where it really came from.
Usage pattern:
[information/reputation/image/data] laundering; laundering [something] through [someone/something]
Common mistake:
This metaphor is usually negative; it suggests deliberate deception, not ordinary improvement or editing.
Synonyms
whitewashing (Emphasizes hiding faults or wrongdoing.)
|
legitimization (Broader and more neutral; may not imply deception.)
|
rebranding (Often commercial and less strongly deceptive.)
Antonyms
exposure (Revealing the true origin or nature of something.)
|
debunking (Showing that a claim or story is false or misleading.)
|
transparency (Openness rather than concealment.)
Collocations
information laundering
|reputation laundering
|image laundering
|credibility laundering
|source laundering
|evidence laundering
|laundering propaganda
|laundering rumors
|laundering through intermediaries
|laundering stolen data
Themes
media
|politics
|business
|public_relations
Examples
- Critics accused the website of laundering conspiracy theories into mainstream news.
- The sponsorship deal was dismissed as reputation laundering for the regime.
- The network helped with the laundering of stolen data by presenting it as a public-interest leak.
Learner examples
- The report called the campaign a form of image laundering.
- The group was accused of laundering false stories.
Grammar
Dictionary form
laundering
IPA
GB/lˈɔndɚɪŋ/
US/lˈɔndɚɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
laun - der - ing (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (laun)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: laundering
- Plural: laundering, launderings
Expressions
anti-money laundering
1/ˈæntaɪ mˈʌni lˈɔndɚɪŋ/
fixed phrase
legal
preventing illegal financial concealment
Rules and checks that stop people from hiding illegal money.
Examples
- The bank hired more anti-money laundering specialists.
- New anti-money laundering rules require companies to verify customers.
- She completed an anti-money laundering training course before starting work.
information laundering
1/ˌɪnfɔɹmˈeɪʃən lˈɔndɚɪŋ/
fixed phrase
making false information credible
Making false or biased information look trustworthy by passing it through other sources.
Examples
- Researchers described the campaign as information laundering through local news sites.
- The rumor moved from anonymous posts to blogs and then to television, a classic case of information laundering.
- The report warned that social media accounts were being used for information laundering.
reputation laundering
1/ɹˌɛpjətˈeɪʃən lˈɔndɚɪŋ/
fixed phrase
improving a damaged public image
Trying to make a bad reputation look better by using respectable partners or activities.
Examples
- Human rights groups called the international sports event an exercise in reputation laundering.
- Critics said the donation was reputation laundering, not real accountability.
- The company was accused of using museum sponsorships for reputation laundering.