whitewash

A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white.

For walls plaster gave a smooth white surface; or if it was not sufficiently white, or had become discoloured, it could be brightened up with a coat of whitewash or paint.

A thing used to hide mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; also (often politics), an act of hiding mistakes or creating an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; especially, a campaign, investigation, etc., whic

“She has developed an arrogance of power,” Mr. Richardson said by telephone during a layover in Tokyo on his way back to New Mexico from Myanmar. “I’ve known her a long time and am fond of her, but she basically is unwilling to listen to bad news, and I don’t want to be part of a whitewash.”

A report by the City watchdog into the scandal at Royal Bank of Scotland’s turnaround unit has been described as a whitewash after the regulator confirmed it would not punish the bank for mistreating business customers following the financial crash.

An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.

A complete victory or series of victories without suffering any losses; a clean sweep; also, a victory or series of victories by a very large margin.

For the first time in a long time, Australia are being threatened with the prospect of a 5-0 whitewash

The most basic type of thickening agent, consisting of flour blended with water to make a paste.

To paint (a building, a wall, etc.) a bright white with whitewash (noun noun sense 1).

The houses looked very bright after they had whitewashed the whole neighbourhood.

Provided that any such window or skylight may be whitewashed or shaded for the purpose of mitigating heat or glare.

To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people.

If you appreciate historical accuracy and fair inclusion, don't go see this film [Stonewall (2015)]. If you don’t want to fuel the economy at another Hollywood attempt of whitewashing American history, don't give any aspect of this film a single dime or promotion.

Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled cuts the book's black characters, whitewashing its tale of the Civil War–era South. At this point, that's hardly a surprise. [subtitle]

To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people.

From Scarlett Johansson's heroine in the remake of the anime classic to Tilda Swinton as a Himalayan high priest in Doctor Strange, the film industry stands accused of whitewashing Asian characters and culture. Does it have a defence? [subtitle] […] Swinton replied that Dr Strange's writers were seeking to avoid the tired Orientalist stereotype of the "wise old Eastern geezer" or "Fu Manchu type". […] In other words, it was whitewashing in the name of diversity.

To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people.

One of Naomi Osaka's sponsors has been forced to apologise after depicting the Japanese tennis star, who is half-Haitian, with pale skin in an advertisement. […] The company said it had not intended to "whitewash" the athlete, […] The ad, which also features her compatriot Kei Nishikori, drew criticism on social media, with many users accusing Nissin of whitewashing Osaka, whose mother is Japanese.

To cover or coat (something) with a white substance, as if with whitewash (noun noun sense 1); also, to light up (something) with white light.