The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word INNOCENT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
I
N
N
O
C
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result INNOCENT
- Pub’s been given old American coin — not guilty!
- Blameless drinking establishment taking zero money
- Clear empty can, one tin drunk
- Impeccable hotel supported by none of Trump’s money
- Honest pub, old and beamed, we hear
- One is this through no fault of one’s own
- One of many so-called religious leaders, pure and harmless
- Lodge reviewed note about head of catering having clean hands
- Once broken into, pub has time to get clean
- Popular without little bit of money? That’s naive
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "having clean hands" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case having clean hands = innocent.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does INNOCENT mean?
INNOCENT noun- One who is innocent, especially a young child.
- A harmless simple-minded person; an idiot.
- Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.
- Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.
- Naive; artless.
- (obsolete except medicine) Not harmful; innocuous; harmless; benign.
- (with of) Having no knowledge (of something).
- (with of) Lacking (something).
- Lawful; permitted.
- Not contraband; not subject to forfeiture.