white meat

American  

noun

1. any meat that is light-colored before cooking, as veal or chicken (distinguished from red meat).

2. meat that is light-colored after cooking, as veal or breast of chicken or of turkey (distinguished from dark meat).

3. Slang: Vulgar. a white person considered as a sexual partner.

4. Southern U.S. salt pork, fatback, or other pork without any lean.

5. Archaic. food made from milk.

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white meat British  

noun

1. any meat that is light in colour, such as veal or the breast of turkey Compare red meat

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Etymology

Origin of white meat

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

white meat

But you have to make sure it’s white meat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Ironically, heavily processed and oddly shaped chicken patties, tenders and nuggets were popular so long as they claimed to contain 100% white meat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

If you love white meat, turkey breasts can suffice.

From Salon ● Nov. 28, 2024

The findings around chicken and other white meat were less clear.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2024

It was the same way I felt when he smiled, his face breaking open like a coconut with the brilliant white meat inside.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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