noun

greenwashing

/ˈɡriːnwɒʃɪŋ/ · say it: GREEN·wosh·ing

misleading claims about a product's environmental benefits

In more detail

the practice of making false claims about environmental responsibility to appear more eco-friendly than a company actually is

Examples

The fashion brand was accused of greenwashing when it claimed to be sustainable while still using harmful chemicals in production.

How to use greenwashing

Greenwashing refers to deliberate corporate deception about environmental practices, used critically to expose insincerity rather than descriptively. It appears frequently in business, environmental, and media contexts when discussing corporate responsibility claims. The term carries inherent negative judgment, distinguishing it from neutral terms like 'marketing' or 'branding.'

Common phrases

accused of greenwashing
engage in greenwashing
expose greenwashing
greenwashing tactics
greenwashing campaign
fall victim to greenwashing

Synonyms

eco-friendly deception · environmental posturing · false environmentalism · sustainability theater · green marketing fraud

Opposites

genuine sustainability · authentic environmental commitment

Word family

greenwash (verb) · greenwasher (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use greenwashing to describe any minor environmental shortcoming or gap between claims and practice, when it specifically denotes intentional misleading or false claims designed to manipulate consumers.

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD