Meanings
- usually public policy or managementTransparency about the inner workings of an organization prevents corruption.
So all that being said, we are taking a gamble that sunlight is the best disinfectant.
2025 April 11, Kevin Roose, Casey Newton, quoting Daniel Kokotajlo, “Big Tech’s Tariff Chaos + A.I. 2027 + Llama Drama”, in The New York Times, →ISSN3 more examples
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant," said Puccio in explaining his decision to open the proceeding to reporters.
1989 January 5, Phil Berger, “Lawyers Slug It Out In Tyson-Cayton Case”, in New York Times, retrieved 08 Jan 2016The basic premise of a scoop is that you're bringing important facts to public attention. Your philosophical touchstone is Justice Louis Brandeis' bromide that sunlight is the best disinfectant.
1999 March 15, Michael Kinsley, “The Trouble with Scoops”, in Time, retrieved 08 Jan 2016"Sunlight is the best disinfectant," he said. "We must change our practices and our mindset, moving from a culture of secrecy to one of complete openness and accountability."
2009 June 21, Catherine Bennett, “No one gains from blowing the cover of this secret policeman”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 08 Jan 2016
Origin
From an observation by Louis Brandeis.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
sunlight is the best disinfectant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sunlight%20is%20the%20best%20disinfectant
“sunlight is the best disinfectant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sunlight%20is%20the%20best%20disinfectant. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sunlight is the best disinfectant,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sunlight%20is%20the%20best%20disinfectant.
Source: sunlight is the best disinfectant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.