off-white

American  

[awf-hwahyt, -wahyt, of-] / ˈɔfˈʰwaɪt, -ˈwaɪt, ˈɒf- /

adjective

1. white mixed with a small amount of gray, yellow, or other light color.

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noun

off-whites plural

1. an off-white color.

off-white British  

noun

1. a colour, such as cream or bone, consisting of white mixed with a tinge of grey or with a pale hue

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adjective

1. of such a colour

   an off-white coat

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• off-whites
  plural

Etymology

Origin of off-white

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

It’s deceptively conventional, with an axial structure and a conglomerate of relatively full chroma set against an off-white background.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

Robe says she chose the off-white Crate & Barrel center table for its 'organic, amorphous shape.'

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

The off-white form of the rustic terracotta jar, shattered over millenniums and fastidiously reassembled, is elegantly decorated in rich brown and black designs, including bursts of rosettes and abstract squiggles.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

Before the verdict came down, Combs sat quietly in his chair, looking forward, wearing the same off-white sweater and pants he wore for much of his trial.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

The off-white walls with the framed photos of Grandfather were narrowing, bearing down on me.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• camel
• cream
• khaki
• tan
• taupe