whiter; whitest
1
a
: having the color of new snow or milk
b
: light or pale in color
white hair
white wine
lips white with fear
c
: free from color : clear, transparent
white vinegar
vodka and other white liquors
d
: lustrous pale gray : silvery
white alloy wheels
also
: made of silver
… each ball containing 1.366 ounces of pure silver, would cost $204.90 compared with $5.29 at the white metal's pre-1967 price of 1.29 … —
William L. Silber
William L. Silber 2
a
or less commonly White
: of or relating to any of various population groups considered as having light pigmentation of the skin
Note: The meaning of white as it relates to population groups has historically been fluid, with people of particular ancestries being excluded for a time before being included, and vice versa. The category has also often functioned as a grouping into which people who are not designated as belonging in some other category are placed. Specific parameters are, however, sometimes set, as in the U.S. 2020 Census, which stipulates that "the category of 'White' includes all individuals who identify with one or more nationalities or ethnic groups originating in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa."
b
or less commonly White
: of or relating to white people or their culture
books from the canon of white literature
c
dated, offensive
: marked by upright fairness
That's mighty white of you
Note: This use of white is sometimes used ironically.
3
: free from spot or blemish: such as
a(1)
: free from moral impurity : innocent
the pure white heart of the devout
(2)
: marked by the wearing of white by the woman as a symbol of purity
a white wedding
b
: unmarked by writing or printing
a writer trying to will the white space on the page away
c
: not intended to cause harm
a white lie
white magic
4
a
: wearing or habited in white
white friars
b
: marked by the presence of snow : snowy
a white Christmas
5
a
: heated to the point of whiteness
molten white metal
b
: notably ardent : passionate
white fury
6
a
: conservative or reactionary in political outlook and action
b
: instigated or carried out by reactionary forces as a counterrevolutionary measure
a white terror
7
: of, relating to, or constituting a musical tone quality characterized by a controlled pure sound, a lack of warmth and color, and a lack of resonance
8
: consisting of a wide range of frequencies
—used of light, sound, and electromagnetic radiation
plural whites
1
: the achromatic object color of greatest lightness characteristically perceived to belong to objects that reflect diffusely nearly all incident energy throughout the visible spectrum
2
: one that is or approaches white in color: such as
a
: white clothing
—often used in plural
b
c
: a white mammal (such as a horse or a hog)
d(1)
: a white-colored product (such as flour)
—usually used in plural
(2)
: any of numerous butterflies (subfamily Pierinae of the family Pieridae) that usually have the ground color of the wings white and are related to the sulphur butterflies
e
3
: a person belonging to any of various population groups considered as having light pigmentation of the skin
Note: This meaning of the noun white is usually used in the plural form and typically in contexts about population groups, as in "a policy supported by many rural whites."
4
a
: a white or light-colored part of something: such as
(1)
: a mass of albuminous material surrounding the yolk of an egg
(2)
: the white part of the eyeball
(3)
: the light-colored pieces in a 2-player board game
also
: the player by whom these are played
(4)
: the area of a page unmarked by writing, printing, or illustration
b(1)
archaic
: a white target
(2)
: the fifth or outermost circle of an archery target
also
: a shot that hits it
5
6
often capitalized
: a member of a conservative or reactionary political group
Synonyms
Examples of white in a Sentence
Adjective
He was wearing white sneakers.
He had a long, white beard.
Her lips were white with fear.
He turned white when he heard the news.
He came from a white middle-class background.
His mother is Hispanic and his father is white.
Noun
the whites of his eyes
The cake recipe calls for four egg whites.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
Black people make up about 14% of the U.S. population but are three times more likely to face hunger than white people, according to the Agriculture Department.
—Maya Eaglin, NBC News, 11 Feb. 2023
PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
The bar is well stocked with every kind of spirits and beers, and the wine list, which offers 25 by the glass, is extensive and focused on whites.
—John Mariani, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024
Whip egg whites: Beat egg whites on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for white 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
More white people claim the credit than Black people certainly.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
Black people make up about 14% of the U.S. population but are three times more likely to face hunger than white people, according to the Agriculture Department.
—Maya Eaglin, NBC News, 11 Feb. 2023
Noun
The blacks of suits in the party scenes look dark while still retaining their cuts and contours, and the whites of lights and balloons are properly bright.
—PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
The bar is well stocked with every kind of spirits and beers, and the wine list, which offers 25 by the glass, is extensive and focused on whites.
—John Mariani, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
Plus, the enormous baby has a healthy appetite, feasting on 25 fish—sand whiting, rainbow trout and salmon—each day.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024
Whip egg whites: Beat egg whites on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for white
Dictionary Entries Near white
Cite this Entry
“White.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
white
1 of 2 adjective
ˈhwīt 
ˈwīt
whiter; whitest
1
2
often capitalized
: of or relating to any of various population groups considered as having light pigmentation of the skin
3
: unmarked by writing or printing : blank
4
: not intended to cause harm
a white lie
white magic
5
: marked by the presence of snow
a white Christmas
whiteness
noun
white
2 of 2 noun1
: the color of fresh snow
2
: a white or light-colored thing or part (as the material around the yolk of an egg or the white part of the eyeball)
3
: one that is or approaches the color white: as
a
: white clothing
washed a load of whites
b
plural
: teeth
—used in the phrase pearly whites
4
: a person belonging to any of various population groups considered as having light pigmentation of the skin
Biographical Definition
White
2 of 9biographical name (2)
Byron Raymond 1917–2002 American jurist
White
3 of 9biographical name (3)
Edward Douglass 1845–1921 American jurist; chief justice U.S. Supreme Court (1910–21)
White
4 of 9biographical name (4)
Elwyn Brooks 1899–1985 American journalist and writer
White
5 of 9biographical name (5)
Gilbert 1720–1793 English clergyman and naturalist
White
6 of 9biographical name (6)
Patrick Victor Martindale 1912–1990 Australian writer
White
7 of 9biographical name (7)
Stanford 1853–1906 American architect
White
8 of 9biographical name (8)
Theodore Harold 1915–1986 American journalist and writer
White
9 of 9biographical name (9)
William Allen 1868–1944 American journalist and writer
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