whiteout

[ hwahyt-out, wahyt- ]

/ ˈʰwaɪtˌaʊt, ˈwaɪt- /

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See synonyms for whiteout on Thesaurus.com

noun

Meteorology.

a condition, found in polar regions, in which uniform illumination from snow on the ground and from a low cloud layer makes features of the landscape indistinguishable.
a condition of heavily falling or blowing snow in which visibility is very poor.

an act or instance of whiting out with a correction fluid.

a white correction fluid used for this: a bottle of whiteout.

a mistake, as in typing, that has been whited out with a correction fluid.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of whiteout

1940–45; (defs. 2-4) noun use of verb phrase white out;(def. 1) white + (black)out

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use whiteout in a sentence

First off, can we take a moment and appreciate the end of the ‘white out’ during prime time?
TV News' Next Reverend Al|Allison Samuels|August 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
These lenses white out my eyes entirely except for a small black spot in the center, which I see through.
In My Family, Halloween Means One Thing: Latex|Laura Bennett|October 31, 2008|DAILY BEAST
It was mysteriously white out of doors, with nothing awake except the birds just beginning to chirp.
The Forsyte Saga, Volume III.|John Galsworthy
The captain saw something white out there on the dark, wet porch.
Cursed|George Allan England

It seemed as if he wanted White out, so that he could help him, but was afraid to trust him.
The Expressman and the Detective|Allan Pinkerton
A little head projecting from an enormous neck-circle of white out-puffing feathers, middle sized body, and long legs.
The Natural Philosophy of Love|Remy de Gourmont
All was snowy and white out of doors, and a cheerful fire inside was most to be desired.
A Woman who went to Alaska|May Kellogg Sullivan

British Dictionary definitions for whiteout

white out

verb (adverb)

(intr) to lose or lack daylight visibility owing to snow or fog

(tr) to create or leave white spaces in (printed or other matter)

(tr) to delete (typewritten words or characters) with a white correcting fluid

noun whiteout

an atmospheric condition consisting of loss of visibility and sense of distance and direction due to a uniform whiteness of a heavy cloud cover and snow-covered ground, which reflects almost all the light it receives

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

whiteout

Origin of whiteout

Words related to whiteout

How to use whiteout in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for whiteout