white flight

American  

[hwahyt flahyt, wahyt] / ˈʰwaɪt ˈflaɪt, ˈwaɪt /

noun

1. the movement of white people, especially middle-class and affluent white people, from urban neighborhoods undergoing racial integration to the suburbs.

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white flight British  

noun

1. the departure of White residents from areas where non-White people are settling

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Etymology

Origin of white flight

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

white flight

Detroit’s ranking as the most affordable city in Remitly’s list reflects the city’s decades-long population loss, driven by white flight and a decline in the auto industry, Lens said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026

In brief, Citicorp is seeking to build a new headquarters in New York, at a time when New York is mired in rampant street crime, white flight and financial collapse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025

An American representative told the men at the time that the complaint had come from a white flight attendant.

From New York Times ● May 29, 2024

Then came the familiar Rust Belt story of white flight, companies merging and closing or moving to the Sunbelt, and deindustrialization.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 14, 2023

At the same time, Yeoville had started to suffer from white flight, neglect, general decline.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah