white

15 synonyms and 1 antonym for white, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Reflecting all wavelengths of visible light equally; having the colour of snow or milk.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

cream

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

ivory snowy pale milky Caucasian

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

off-white tweed flannel whiteness whiten albumen egg white ovalbumin gabardine

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Reflecting all wavelengths of visible light equally; having the colour of snow or milk.

“She painted the fence white to match the house.”

ivory snowy cream off-white pale milky Caucasian tweed flannel whiteness whiten albumen egg white ovalbumin gabardine

Opposites

black

2. noun

A member of a light-skinned population, especially one of European descent.

“The census asks people to identify as white, Black, Asian, or another category.”

gabardine whiteness Caucasian tweed ovalbumin albumen flannel

Opposites

black

3. verb

To make something white; to whiten or bleach.

“She whited the old fence with a coat of paint before the party.”

whiten

How to use white

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

white as snow turn white white noise white wine

Etymology

From Old English hwīt, going all the way back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "bright, shining" — the same root that gives related words for light and gleaming across many European languages.

Full origin of white →

Frequently asked questions

What does “white” mean?

The word “white” means reflecting all wavelengths of visible light equally; having the colour of snow or milk. In plain terms, the colour of snow, milk, or a blank page — reflecting light rather than absorbing it.

How do you pronounce “white”?

“White” is pronounced WYT (/ˈwaɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “white” in a sentence?

Here is “white” used in a sentence: “She painted the fence white to match the house.”

What part of speech is “white”?

Depending on how it is used, “white” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “white” come from?

The word “white” comes from Old English. From Old English hwīt, going all the way back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "bright, shining" — the same root that gives related words for light and gleaming across many European languages.

Is “white” a common word?

“White” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “white” have?

“White” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: reflecting all wavelengths of visible light equally; having the colour of snow or milk.

What is the difference between white and black?

White and black are visual opposites. White reflects all wavelengths of visible light more or less equally, which is why it looks bright, like snow or milk. Black does the reverse, absorbing nearly all light and reflecting almost none, which is why it appears so dark.

Is white a colour?

It depends on how you look at it. In terms of light, white is all the colours of the spectrum combined, since it reflects every wavelength at once. In terms of paint or pigment, some call white a colour and others call it the absence of colour. Both views are common.

What is the opposite of white?

The opposite of white is black. White reflects nearly all visible light while black absorbs it, so the two sit at opposite ends of the light-and-dark scale. This strong contrast is why black text on a white page is so easy to read.

What is an example of something white?

Everyday white objects include snow, milk, chalk, fresh paper, and clouds. These are the classic reference points people reach for when describing the colour, which is why definitions of 'white' so often mention the colour of snow or milk as the clearest examples.

Related words

blue green orange red violet whitebeam whiten whiteness whiteness studies whitish yellow

People also searched

black cream pale ivory milky snowy Caucasian tweed flannel gabardine whiten whiteness

Nearby words

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