From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlaunderlaun‧der /ˈlɔːndə $ ˈlɒːndər/ verb [transitive] 1 SCto put money which has been obtained illegally into legal businesses and bank accounts, so that you can hide it or use it He was jailed for laundering drug money.2 formalWASH to wash and iron clothes, sheets etc→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
launder• Norio worked with foreign banks to launder drug profit.laundering ... money• And the spectre of money laundering looms.• Before the pardon was granted, federal prosecutors began investigating new allegations of money laundering and tax evasion.• Elisa Felix pled guilty in 1993 to a money laundering charge and served a 10-month prison sentence.• He faces trial on dozens of charges, including money laundering, drug trafficking and masterminding death squad killings.• It extends the scope of existing money laundering offences to cover the proceeds of other crimes.• Santacruz was awaiting trial for illicit enrichment, money laundering and drug trafficking.• Thompson began a six-year sentence for money laundering earlier this year.• Two appeared in court on money laundering charges.From Longman Business Dictionarylaunderlaun‧der /ˈlɔːndəˈlɒːndər/ verb [transitive]LAW launder money/profits to put money which has been obtained illegally into legal businesses and bank accounts in order to hide where it was obtainedThe bank had allegedly laundered money for drug dealers and other criminals. —laundering noun [uncountable]He was sentenced to three years in prison for money laundering.the laundering of drug profits through Panamanian banks and front companies→ See Verb tableOrigin launder (1500-1600) launder “someone who washes clothes” ((14-17 centuries)), from French lavandier, from Latin lavare; → LAVATORY 