Skip to main content

quote-laundering 

The act of citing a source to support a hypothesis and burying the reference in a footnote or endnote that, once investigated, turns out to be irrelevant, spurious or entirely fictitious.

Similar to quote-stuffing, a common practice in academic paper-writing, but not to be confused with quote mining.
I was trying to track down that juicy reference that Malcolm Gladwell dropped about what Nietzsche said about cell phones but it turned out to be total quote-laundering.
quote-laundering mug front
Get the quote-laundering mug.
See more merch

quote laundering

The process by which a counterfeit quotation or news item eventually gets picked up by multiple news sources, which cite one another but never lead back to a verifiable source (because there isn't one). The quote's appearance on multiple forums and news aggregators lends it credibility because it is viewed as "reported" by multiple outlets.

Laundered quotes can originate from satire that is not recognized as satire, but more frequently from an Internet writer who is paraphrasing or outright fabricating.
No matter how many places you see it mentioned, the starlet never actually Tweeted that "Scientology is an abusive cult." A comedian said this while doing an impression of her, and then quote laundering took over.
quote laundering by bluebelle September 4, 2013
well known from south park
rednecks get angrry that future folk took there jobs so they yell
They took ouare jerbs!
Them future folk took ouare jerbs!
jerb by Jimberley Kim April 7, 2005
Word of the Day on May 22, 2026
An Irish phrase meaning shit, derived from ass
(Not to be confused with the literal description of one's buttocks)
"Did you hear the song Aylek$ dropped?"
"Hardly. Her music is absolute cheeks."

"My boyfriend say LaFlame is cheeks."
"Tell your boyfriend I said it's his mixtape that's cheeks."
Cheeks by thecartisan April 26, 2020
Word of the Day on May 21, 2026

sans sheriff 

Lawless use of fonts or typography, with no regard to aesthetics or legibility
I'm putting this CV straight in the bin. Written totally sans sheriff.
sans sheriff by Jamarley July 3, 2019
Word of the Day on May 20, 2026

Breadhead 

Someone who is addicted to obtaining money and building wealth. A money addict and fanatic. Breadheads often work more than one full-time job, and some even participate in illicit activities to "obtain the bread".
A breadhead is like a crackhead, but for money instead of crack.
Breadhead by 🅱️ U S 3 4 8 March 30, 2022
Word of the Day on May 19, 2026

Stink lines

As seen in illustrations or cartoons: Wavy, vertical lines rising above a person, place or thing. Denotes a foul odor.
"You didn't put enough stink lines on your picture of the teacher."
Stink lines by Athene Airheart March 14, 2004
Word of the Day on May 18, 2026