launder

[lawn-der, lahn-]

verb (used with object)

1. to wash (clothes, linens, etc.).

2. to wash and iron (clothes).

3. Informal.

   1. to disguise the source of (illegal or secret funds or profits), usually by transmittal through a foreign bank or a complex network of intermediaries.

   2. to disguise the true nature of (a transaction, operation, or the like) by routing money or goods through one or more intermediaries.

4. to remove embarrassing or unpleasant characteristics or elements from in order to make more acceptable.

   He'll have to launder his image if he wants to run for office.

verb (used without object)

1. to wash laundry.

2. to undergo washing and ironing.

   The shirt didn't launder well.

noun

1. (in ore dressing) a passage carrying products of intermediate grade and residue in water suspension.

2. Metallurgy.,  a channel for conveying molten steel to a ladle.

launder

/ ˈlɔːndə /

verb

1. to wash, sometimes starch, and often also iron (clothes, linen, etc)

2. (intr) to be capable of being laundered without shrinking, fading, etc

3. (tr) to process (something acquired illegally) to make it appear respectable, esp to process illegally acquired funds through a legitimate business or to send them to a foreign bank for subsequent transfer to a home bank

noun

1. a water trough, esp one used for washing ore in mining

Other Word Forms

• launderer noun
• launderable adjective
• launderability noun
• relaunder verb (used with object)
• unlaundered adjective
• well-laundered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of launder¹

1300–50; 1970–75 launder for def. 3; Middle English: launderer, syncopated variant of lavandere, lavendere washer of linen < Middle French lavandier ( e ) < Medieval Latin lavandārius (masculine), lavandāria (feminine), equivalent to Latin lavand- (gerund stem of lavāre to wash) + -ārius, -āria -ary; -er ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of launder¹

C14 (n, meaning: a person who washes linen): changed from lavender washerwoman, from Old French lavandiere, ultimately from Latin lavāre to wash

Example Sentences

Investigators also identified a shell company possibly used to launder the advertising revenue, which totaled to around $6.2 million, and an investment of $200,000 in cryptocurrency.

From Los Angeles Times

Saudi Arabia, Beijing and other deep-pocketed, unsavory regimes are using the games we love to launder their reputations.

From Los Angeles Times

Leeds Crown Court heard the trio also used the fake companies to launder more than £16.7m made from the scheme.

From BBC

Engonga used to investigate crimes such as money laundering, but found himself at the infamous Black Beach prison in the capital, Malabo, after being accused of corruption.

From BBC

Brown was indicted Wednesday on 21 counts of wire fraud, transactional money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

From Los Angeles Times