Standard Lemma guide

sportswashing

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The use of sporting events to improve an organization or polity's reputation, especially to distract from human rights abuses.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2019 Felix Jakens, quoted in Sean Ingle, "'They want the money': the real reason boxing is going to Saudi Arabia", The Guardian The fight is pure sportswashing and that's why it’s so important to challenge the Saudi propaganda machine and its increased use of sport to gloss over its abysmal human rights record.
  • 2020 Hatice Cengiz, quoted in Stephanie Kirchgaessner, "Khashoggi fiancee: stop Saudi takeover of Newcastle United or be complicit", The Guardian I trust the Premier League and British authorities value their own principles and reputation above this transparent attempt at sports-washing

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

present participle and gerund of sportswash

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From sports + -wash + -ing.

From sportswash + -ing.