1
: an eye lotion
2
: misleading or deceptive statements, actions, or procedures
Examples of eyewash in a Sentence
He says he'll quit his job, but we know that's just eyewash.
Recent Examples on the Web
As for removing chlorine, saltwater, sand granules, or even rogue eyelashes from your eyes, any gentle eyewash solution will do the trick.
—
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2025
The wooden crates were also stacked over 4 feet tall and were blocking emergency equipment, including an eyewash and shower station – which needed to be tested during the inspection – according to the report.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Under this legislation, private households would be required to provide eyewash stations if workers use bleach and could face fines up to $15,000 per safety violation.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2023
Not a single eyewash station.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022
There’s a thin line between optimism and eyewash.
—Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 27 Oct. 2020
The company was also cited for not providing an eyewash station and for allowing workers to operate powered industrial vehicles in states of disrepair.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2022
The last recorded visit by an OSHA inspector to the Henson Company’s Creature Shop facility in Burbank — based on an entry scribbled on an eyewash station seen in a photo shared with The Hollywood Reporter — was in 2017.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2022
Meanwhile, the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football leadership positions, has become toothless, modern-day eyewash.
—Bryce Miller Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2025
The wooden crates were also stacked over 4 feet tall and were blocking emergency equipment, including an eyewash and shower station – which needed to be tested during the inspection – according to the report.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Under this legislation, private households would be required to provide eyewash stations if workers use bleach and could face fines up to $15,000 per safety violation.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2023
Not a single eyewash station.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022
There’s a thin line between optimism and eyewash.
—Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 27 Oct. 2020
The company was also cited for not providing an eyewash station and for allowing workers to operate powered industrial vehicles in states of disrepair.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2022
The last recorded visit by an OSHA inspector to the Henson Company’s Creature Shop facility in Burbank — based on an entry scribbled on an eyewash station seen in a photo shared with The Hollywood Reporter — was in 2017.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2022
Meanwhile, the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football leadership positions, has become toothless, modern-day eyewash.
—Bryce Miller Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Eyewash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eyewash. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
eyewash
noun
eye·wash
-ˌwȯsh 
-ˌwäsh
: an eye lotion
Medical Definition
eyewash
noun
eye·wash
ˈī-ˌwȯsh, -ˌwäsh
: an eye lotion
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share