lily-white

[lil-ee-hwahyt, -wahyt, lil-ee-hwahyt, -wahyt]

adjective

1. white as a lily.

   soft lily-white skin.

2. pure; untouched by corruption or imperfection; above reproach.

   He tries to pass himself off as some sort of lily-white saint, but he's not.

3. designating or pertaining to any faction, organization, or group opposing the inclusion of Black people, especially in political or social life.

   Synonyms: unintegrated, discriminatory, segregated

noun

1. a member of a lily-white organization, especially a member of a former faction of the Republican Party in the South opposed to the inclusion of African Americans in the party or in political life in general.

lily-white

adjective

1. of a pure white

   lily-white skin

2. informal,  pure; irreproachable

3. informal

   1. discriminating against Black people

      a lily-white club

   2. racially segregated

Word History and Origins

Origin of lily-white¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English lylie-whyt

Related Words

• clean 
• decent 
• fresh 
• good 
• honest 
• true