launder

1 of 2

verb

laun·​der ˈlȯn-dər 

ˈlän-

laundered; laundering ˈlȯn-d(ə-)riŋ 

ˈlän-

transitive verb

1

: to wash (something, such as clothing) in water

2

: to make ready for use by washing and ironing

a freshly laundered shirt

3

: to transfer (illegally obtained money or investments) through an outside party to conceal the true source

4

: sanitize sense 2

laundered language

intransitive verb

: to wash or wash and iron clothing or household linens

launderer

ˈlȯn-dər-ər 

ˈlän-

noun

launder

2 of 2

noun

: trough

especially : a box conduit conveying particulate material suspended in water in ore dressing

Synonyms

Verb

• bowdlerize
• censor
• clean (up)
• expurgate
• red-pencil

Examples of launder in a Sentence

Verb

He used a phony business to launder money from drug dealing.

had to launder the quarterback's off-the-cuff's remarks before they could be quoted in the newspaper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The scheme involved creating a fake charity to launder the money as well as a free trip to Florida. —Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2024

Your recruiting violations involve laundered money, strip clubs, escorts, luxury SUVs and a booster named Scabby who slithers around sticky towny bars. —Zach Przystup, Baltimore Sun, 10 Dec. 2024

Noun

North Korea has used the malware to cash out tens of millions of dollars around the world, which coordinated groups of money mules then collect and launder. —Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2020

Still, the Springfield pet situation is a particularly instructive example of how right-wing media often launders and mainstreams obvious misinformation. —Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English launder, noun

Noun

Middle English, launderer, from Anglo-French lavandere, from Medieval Latin lavandarius, from Latin lavandus, gerundive of lavare to wash — more at lye

First Known Use

Verb

1664, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

launder

verb

laun·​der

ˈlȯn-dər,

ˈlän-

laundered; laundering

-d(ə-)riŋ

1

: to wash or wash and iron clothing or household linens

2

: to undergo washing and ironing

launderer

-dər-ər

noun

Legal Definition

launder

transitive verb

laun·​der

: to transfer (money or instruments deriving from illegal activity) so as to conceal the true nature and source

launder money through an offshore account