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Definition of greenwash

greenwash

/ˈɡriːnˌwɑːʃ/
green · wash
Plural:greenwashes
•
Adjective:greenwashed
•
Past Simple:greenwashed
•
Past Participle:greenwashed
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Present Participle:greenwashing
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greenwash Lexical Profile

greenwash Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make people believe that a company, product, or policy is doing more to protect the environment than it really is through misleading publicity.

Example

"The fashion brand was accused of trying to greenwash its image by launching a tiny line of recycled clothing."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for greenwash

• noun

1

Disinformation or deceptive marketing disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image.

Example

"Critics dismissed the oil company's new sustainability campaign as mere greenwash."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for greenwash

• Rhymes for greenwash

• Nearby Words

greenshank
greenskeeper
greenspace
greenwash
greenwashing
greenway
greenwood

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1986 by American environmentalist Jay Westervelt as a blend of "green" (in the ecological sense) and "whitewash."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Greenwash. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/greenwash
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