# whitewash

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/ · frequency rank #36,829

## Definitions
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.
2. 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.
3. An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.
4. 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.
5. The most basic type of thickening agent, consisting of flour blended with water to make a paste.
6. A preparation for making the skin look lighter.
7. 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.
8. White wine, especially Madeira or sherry, drunk after dinner or after taking claret and port; (countable) a glass of such wine.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **whitewashed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whitewash-vs-whitewashed)
- **whitefish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whitefish-vs-whitewash)

## Common misspellings (14)
`hwitewash`, `whhitewash`, `whietwash`, `whiteawsh`, `whitewahs`, `whitewashh`, `whitewassh`, `whitewsah`, `whitewwash`, `whittewash`, `whitweash`, `whtiewash`, `wihtewash`, `wwhitewash`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/whitewash