whitewash
n. countablen. a situation where someone or a group is completely cleaned of any blame or bad reputation. It can also mean a very easy victory in a game or match.
n. a complete clearance of a person or organization from suspicion or blame; alternatively, a victory so decisive that it leaves no doubt about the outcome. Often used in political or legal contexts to describe a lack of accountability.
The team's victory was a total whitewash.
The committee's report was a whitewash, failing to address the serious safety violations that led to the accident.
Critics argued that the internal investigation was a whitewash designed to protect the board from the public scrutiny that the scandal had rightfully earned.
The noun is derived from white (adjective) + wash (noun). Noun noun sense 5.1 (“medicinal preparation for treating skin diseases”) is a calque of New Latin lōtiō alba (literally “white wash”). The verb is derived partly from white (adjective) + wash (verb), and partly from the noun.