launder

1 of 2

verb

laun·​der ˈlȯn-dər 

ˈlän-

laundered; laundering ˈlȯn-d(ə-)riŋ 

ˈlän-

transitive verb

1

: to wash (something, such as clothing) in water

2

: to make ready for use by washing and ironing

a freshly laundered shirt

3

: to transfer (illegally obtained money or investments) through an outside party to conceal the true source

4

: sanitize sense 2

laundered language

intransitive verb

: to wash or wash and iron clothing or household linens

launderer

ˈlȯn-dər-ər 

ˈlän-

noun

launder

2 of 2

noun

: trough

especially : a box conduit conveying particulate material suspended in water in ore dressing

Synonyms of launder

Verb

• censor
• shorten

Examples of launder in a Sentence

Verb

He used a phony business to launder money from drug dealing.

had to launder the quarterback's off-the-cuff's remarks before they could be quoted in the newspaper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

More and more hard-to-trace checks are laundered among political committees, with their murky-sounding names and Tallahassee addresses, frustrating attempts by voters or the media to figure out exactly who’s giving to whom. —Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026

In the spring, simply launder your pillow and mattress protectors. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026

Noun

Place the item in the washing machine and launder using the warmest water recommended on the care tag. —Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026

Editors and contributors compare dozens of sets and look for qualities such as softness, durability, breathability, color fastness, and how well the linens launder and withstand wear. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English launder, noun

Noun

Middle English, launderer, from Anglo-French lavandere, from Medieval Latin lavandarius, from Latin lavandus, gerundive of lavare to wash — more at lye

First Known Use

Verb

1664, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for launder

• condor
• fonder
• mandir
• maunder
• ponder
• squander
• wander
• yonder
• responder
• transponder

Kids Definition

launder

verb

laun·​der

ˈlȯn-dər, 

ˈlän-

laundered; laundering

-d(ə-)riŋ

1

: to wash or wash and iron clothing or household linens

2

: to undergo washing and ironing

launderer

-dər-ər

noun

Legal Definition

launder

transitive verb

laun·​der

: to transfer (money or instruments deriving from illegal activity) so as to conceal the true nature and source

launder money through an offshore account