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Glite Dictionary
to greenwash

to greenwash

1 7.7
To make false or exaggerated claims that something is good for the environment
  • verb
  • /ˈɡriːnˌwɔːʃ/
  • Literature
translation icon : lavado verde
  • But in Rio, too, the right has greenwashed anti-poor policies.

And so they greenwash their product and greenwash product is the nemesis of this kind of farming going.

Examples

  • All you want is BAU, greenwashed.

    Blog text (32)

  • At the same time, corporations spend an inordinate amount of money to "greenwash" themselves.

    Academic text (1999)

  • And so they greenwash their product and greenwash product is the nemesis of this kind of farming going.

    StarTalk

  • They work for fossil companies to greenwash them.

    Blog text (32)

  • "Transit Communities" is just their latest greenwashed terminology.

    Blog text (4)

  • What matters as much as making a transition to renewables is how we make it: do we slaughter millions more acres of wilderness so Big Energy can own the revolution and Big Enviros can greenwash it, or do we get serious and get sustainable, democratically owned solutions in our built environment?

    Blog text (32)

  • The company tried to greenwash its poor environmental record by promoting its new recycling program.

  • Many brands attempt to greenwash their products to attract eco-conscious consumers.

  • Critics claim that the new ad campaign is just an effort to greenwash the company's polluting activities.

How Honest

to greenwash
  • Literature
1 7.7
to mislead
87 3.9

Surface Forms

greenwash infinitive
greenwashed past
greenwashed past participle
greenwashing present participle
greenwashes third person singular

Morphology

greenwash = green + wash (semi-transparent) = green + wash

The word is built from clear English components, but the meaning is metaphorical and specialized rather than a straightforward literal combination.

Etymology

Greenwash comes from green 'environmental' and wash 'to make clean', and it echoes the old word whitewash 'to cover up'. So it means using green words or images to hide that something is not really eco-friendly.