whiteness

[ hwahyt-nis, wahyt- ]

noun

1. the quality or state of being white.
2. paleness.
3. purity.
4. a white substance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of whiteness¹

before 1000; Middle English whitenes, Old English hwītnes. See white, -ness

Example Sentences

Still, we find ourselves left naked and wanting by systems devoted to protecting whiteness.

From Time

For each splashy profile of the 30-year-old writer that has preceded publication, there is an equally pointed critique of her earnest mediocrity or the whiteness of her imagination.

From Washington Post

However, whiteness is not the only way to experience Latinidad or view our communities.

From Essence.com

For the first half of the 20th century, diabetes was considered a disease of well-to-do whiteness.

From ProPublica

It would be nice to say that it hasn’t always been this way, the weaponizing of whiteness, but it very much has.

From Ozy

Still, the exposed skin on my face and hands felt drawn and hot, stinging, a fire of whiteness, a burning Caucasian husk.

From The Daily Beast

But whether good or bad, all are light as a soufflé, radiating asexual whiteness in every note.

From The Daily Beast

Much is being said about the overwhelming whiteness of the delegate mix at the Republican National Convention.

From The Daily Beast

The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the shower thereof.

From Project Gutenberg

His face was of an ashy whiteness; the veins of his brow stood out; his dry lips were drawn.

From Project Gutenberg

Then out of the stillness a bird's note fell through the jungle and there was a gleam of whiteness.

From Project Gutenberg

The marble used for them is of remarkable whiteness and purity, worthy, indeed, of these great works of art.

From Project Gutenberg

Putting on the nuptial robe of a passion in which life itself is concerned, the woman wraps herself in purity and whiteness.

From Project Gutenberg