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Criminal Law & Justice vocabulary · Crimes & Offences

Money laundering

Meaning in criminal law & justice, with examples

/ˈmʌni ˌlɔːndərɪŋ/nounCommon term

In criminal law & justice, money laundering means: The crime of hiding where illegal money came from by moving it through banks, businesses or other transactions so that it looks legal.

In Turkish: kara para aklama, suç gelirlerinin aklanması

How it is used

Used in criminal law, banking and compliance: 'money laundering charges', 'anti-money laundering (AML) rules', 'suspicious transactions'. Banks must report suspicious activity to the authorities. The verb is 'launder money'.

Example sentences

  1. The couple were charged with money laundering after buying three flats in cash.

  2. Banks invest heavily in systems that detect money laundering.

  3. The investigation uncovered a money laundering network linked to drug trafficking.

Common collocations

  • money laundering charges
  • anti-money laundering
  • money laundering scheme
  • launder money
  • fraudThe crime of deceiving people, for example with false information or fake documents, in order to get money, property or another advantage.
  • drug traffickingThe crime of producing, transporting or selling illegal drugs, often in large amounts and across borders.
  • briberyThe crime of offering, giving, asking for or accepting money or another advantage to influence how someone does their job, especially a public official.
  • seizeTo take something away officially using legal powers, for example drugs, weapons, documents or money connected with a crime.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Crimes & Offences

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.