bleaching

American  

[blee-ching] / ˈbli tʃɪŋ /

noun

1. the application of bleach or another chemical agent to something in order to whiten, lighten, clean, or disinfect.

   Bleaching is not recommended for this fabric.

   She gives her kitchen countertops a weekly bleaching.

2. the process of becoming whiter or lighter in color, such as by prolonged exposure to sunlight, the application of chemicals, or other means.

   The bleaching of animal bones in the desert is a well-known phenomenon.

3. a loss of color in coral that indicates declining health: caused by a loss of the algae that normally live symbiotically in the coral's tissues.

4. Photography. the conversion of the silver image of a negative or print to a silver halide, either to remove the image or to change its tone.

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Etymology

Origin of bleaching

First recorded in 1550–60, bleaching for def. 1; 1970–75, bleaching for def. 3; bleach ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Many common whitening products rely on peroxide-based bleaching found in strips, gels, and mouth rinses.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

Daniel added that eventually, he was using the bleaching product all over his body on a daily basis.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

"This is the most geographically extensive analysis of coral bleaching surveys ever done," said Sean Connolly, a senior scientist at the Smithsonian.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

They combined the data with satellite-based heat stress measurements and used statistical models to estimate how much bleaching occurred around the world.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

The rain and wind were overtaking her, rubbing away the details of her legs; the sun was bleaching her hooves into faint outlines, merging into the cliff.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko