brainwash
A distorting effect upon one's memory, belief, or ideas, as by propagandaA distorting effect upon one's memory, belief, or ideas, as by propaganda.
Recorded UK: Speaker: Vealhurl Recorder: Vealhurl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Recorded US: SalomeCzapiewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Meaning
1 sensesA distorting effect upon one's memory, belief, or ideas, as by propaganda.
Gehirnwäsche, Hirnwäsche, Mentizid
промыва́ние мозго́вpromyvánije mozgóv
промива́ння мі́зківpromyvánnja mízkiv
Origin
From brain + wash, a calque of Chinese 洗腦 /洗脑 (xǐnǎo), literally to wash the brain. UsageFrom brain + wash, a calque of Chinese 洗腦 /洗脑 (xǐnǎo), literally to wash the brain. Usage via U.S. military during the Korean War.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Dictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.