Dictionary

launderette en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /lɔndəˈɹɛt/ (General-American)
• /lɔːnˈdɹɛt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Genericized trademark of Launderette; originally a proprietary name (1940s) of Bendix corporation, from launder + -ette.

Meanings

1. A place that has facilities for washing and drying clothes that the public may pay to use.
2. A money laundering operation.
   • This is a stage at which the proceeds of illegal activity are introduced into the financial system and therefore it is the most vulnerable stage in the launderette. Perhaps this is why anti-money laundering measures are concerned about “Know Your Customer Principle. 2015, Ibrahim Abdul Abubakar, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing, page 63:
   • From drug money to terrorist finance: the launderette's many different washing cycles 2009, Christine Jojarth, Crime, War, and Global Trafficking, page 140:
   • The distinction is by no means watertight as any 'money launderette' may become a money launderer – and hence be guilty of a money laundering offence – the moment it knowingly engages in a money laundering operation. 2000, Guy Stessens, Money Laundering: A New International Law Enforcement Model, page 133:

Forms

Synonyms

laundromat (money-laundering operation) · washette (self-service laundry facility) · laundrette (self-service laundry facility) · washery (self-service laundry facility) · washateria (self-service laundry facility) · laundromat (self-service laundry facility) · coin laundry (self-service laundry facility) · washeteria (self-service laundry facility)

Translations (42)

cy tŷ golchi (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · eu garbitegi (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · gl lavandería (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ga níolann (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · da møntvaskeri (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · pt lavandaria (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · he מִכְבָּסָה (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ru ландрома́т (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · cmn 自助洗衣店 (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · hu mosoda (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ja コインランドリー (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · fr laverie (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · es lavandería (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ko 코인런드리 (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · hu mosószalon (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · cy londrét (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · pl pralnia samoobsługowa (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ca bugaderia (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · fi pesula (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ru пра́чечная-автома́т (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · pt lavanderia (a moedas) (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ast llavandería (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · cy golchdy (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · fr laverie automatique (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · de Waschsalon (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · sv tvättomat (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · et pesumaja (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ko 동전식 세탁기 (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · de Münzwäscherei (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · eu ikuztegi (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · es lavandería autoservicio (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · bg пералня на самообслужване (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ru пра́чечная самообслу́живания (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · cho abinili awinakʋchi (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · fr buanderie (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ko 빨래방 (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · fi itsepalvelupesula (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · fr lavomatique (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · nl wasserette (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · is þvottahús (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · ga ionad níocháin (place with facilities for washing that public may use) · gl lavandaría (place with facilities for washing that public may use)