Blackwashes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To cover up or alter the perception of wrongdoing or negative actions
2. To make something appear more favorable than it actually is while obscuring flaws or faults
3. To engage in a process of rebranding or revising history to improve reputation or public image

Etymology: "Blackwashes" is the third-person singular form of "blackwash," so its history is that of the verb it inflects. The verb is formed from "black" and "wash," and it draws on the older sense of "whitewash," meaning to cover over a blemish or to present something in a flattering light. Turning that pattern around, "blackwash" applies the same idea to a reputation or a historical record, which is damaged or distorted rather than cleaned up. Because the verb is a transparent compound, its meaning follows directly from the two parts: "black" in the sense of dark or sullied, and "wash" in the sense of cleansing a surface. Its exact first recorded use is not established here, so its century of entry is left unstated.