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.
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.
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.
“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.”
An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.
To paint (a building, a wall, etc.) a bright white with whitewash (noun noun, sense 1).
The houses looked very bright after they had whitewashed the whole neighbourhood.
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.
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 ve...
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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.
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.