-washing

The -washing suffix is used in various fields in relation to covering something up. It originates from the concept of whitewash paint, suggesting an effort to give a particular appearance and to conceal negative aspects. ^[1]

List

• AI washing  – Marketing tactic
• Artwashing  – Use of art in gentrification
• Farmwashing  – Deceptive farm-related marketing practices
• Greenwashing  – Misleading environmental marketing claims
• Humanewashing  – Misleading animal welfare claims
• Openwashing  – Term to describe presenting something as open
• Pinkwashing (breast cancer)  – Form of cause marketing that uses a range of pink ribbon logos
• Pinkwashing (LGBTQ)  – Promotional use of LGBTQ rights
• Purplewashing  – Use of feminist aesthetics to promote organisations
• Redwashing  – Adopting inauthentic left-wing rhetoric for gain
• Sanewashing  – Downplaying the radical aspects of a person or idea
• Sportswashing  – Using sports to improve reputations
• Well-being washing  – Misleading presentation of employee care
• Whitewashing (communications)  – To sanitize and change hiding undesirable qualities
• Whitewashing in film  – Controversial casting practice in the film industry

References

1. "WASH Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com". www.dictionary.com. Retrieved 8 March 2026.