Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or process of washing clothes and bed linens: The primary meaning refers to the domestic chore of cleaning textiles, typically using water, detergent, and often a machine.
   • The process of making illegally obtained money appear legitimate: In finance and law, "laundering" specifically refers to disguising the origins of money obtained from criminal activities.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Domestic Chore):

  • Sunday is usually dedicated to the laundering of all the family's clothes.
  • Proper laundering can extend the life of your favorite sweater.

• Noun (Financial Crime):

  • The bank was investigated for its role in the laundering of drug money.
  • He was convicted for his involvement in a complex money laundering scheme.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in the laundering": Can be used informally to describe being in the process of doing laundry.
  • My favorite jeans are still in the laundering, so I can't wear them today.

Variants and Related Words

• Launder (verb): To wash clothes and linens, or to make illegal money appear legal.

  • I need to launder these shirts for tomorrow.
  • Criminals use shell companies to launder cash.

• Launderer (noun): A person or entity that launders, especially in the financial crime sense.

  • The launderer was caught transferring funds through multiple countries.

• Laundromat (noun): A self-service laundry facility with coin-operated machines.

• Laundry (noun): The dirty clothes/linens to be washed, the act of washing them, or the room/area where washing is done.

Synonyms

• Washing: The act of cleaning with water and soap (for the domestic meaning).
• Cleansing: Purifying or making clean.
• Money washing: A direct synonym for the financial crime (less common).

Related Phrases

• Money laundering: The specific and most common phrase for the financial crime.

  • The organization was built on fraud and money laundering.

• Laundering cycle: Refers to the stages of the washing process (e.g., wash, rinse, spin) or the stages of cleaning illegal money.

• Laundering instructions: The care labels on clothing (e.g., "Follow the laundering instructions on the tag").

Noun

1. washing clothes and bed linens