Definition:
Legitimacy laundering is the process by which harmful, exploitative, or controversial practices are made socially acceptable by associating them with trusted institutions, values, or communities.
Usage Context:
Seen in corporate partnerships, influencer endorsements, cultural sponsorships, policy consultation processes, and platform governance.
Critical Note:
Laundering transfers credibility without transferring accountability. Trust is borrowed to neutralise critique, allowing practices to persist under a veneer of respectability.
Related Terms:
Cultural Capture, Language Laundering, Community Exploitation, Platform Power, Trust Leveraging