Anything used to conceal something undesirable or that one does not want to be discovered
A representation of leaf of a fig plant used to cover the genitals of a nude figure in a work of art (alluding to Genesis iii 7, in which Adam and Eve use fig leaves to hide their nakedness)
disapproval People sometimes refer disapprovingly to something which is intended to hide or prevent an embarrassing situation as a fig leaf. This deal is little more than a fig leaf for the continued destruction of the landscape. the large leaf of the fig tree, sometimes shown in paintings as covering people's sex organs