noun

whitelist

WYT-list

Whitelist (noun) means a list of people, addresses, applications or sites that are explicitly approved and allowed through a filter or security control, when everything else is blocked. Example: “Add our email address to your whitelist so the newsletter reaches your inbox.”

noun

A list of people, addresses, applications or sites that are explicitly approved and allowed through a filter or security control, when everything else is blocked.

"Add our email address to your whitelist so the newsletter reaches your inbox."

"Only devices on the whitelist can connect to the network."

In cryptocurrency and token sales, a pre-approved list of wallet addresses permitted to take part in a mint or early sale.

"She got on the whitelist for the drop by joining the Discord early."

verb

To place something or someone on such a list so that it is permitted.

"Please whitelist the domain before the migration."

"He whitelisted the site so ads would still load."

How to Use Whitelist

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA list of things that are allowed through.

When to use it

Neutral and technical. Allowlist is now preferred in many style guides and codebases.

Memory tip

Written as one word in technical use, as both noun and verb.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

blacklist → allowlist greylist firewall rule

Common pairings

whitelist an address IP whitelist whitelisted domain get on the whitelist

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Add our email address to your _____ so the newsletter reaches your inbox.

Etymology

From white plus list, formed by analogy with the older blacklist.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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allowlist safe list approved list allow approve permit presale list

Antonyms

blacklist blocklist denylist block ban

Related Words

let hit bit include stuff allow bar mass

Rhymes for whitelist

novelist evangelist

See all rhymes for whitelist →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a whitelist and a blacklist?

A whitelist blocks everything by default and permits only what is on the list. A blacklist permits everything by default and blocks only what is on the list. Whitelisting is far more restrictive and therefore more secure, but needs more maintenance.

Why do people say allowlist instead of whitelist?

Many organisations have adopted allowlist and blocklist because the older pair implies white means good and black means bad. The replacements are also clearer to non-native speakers, since they say plainly what the list does. The meaning is unchanged.

How do I whitelist an email address?

In most mail clients you add the sender to your contacts, or create a filter or rule that never sends mail from that address to spam. The exact wording differs — Gmail calls it a filter, Outlook a safe sender.

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