white noise

American  

[wahyt noiz, hwahyt] / ˈwaɪt ˈnɔɪz, ˈʰwaɪt /

noun

1. Also called broadband noise.  Physics. a noise signal with a uniform frequency spectrum over a wide range of frequencies.

2. Also called white sound.  Informal. any steady, unobtrusive sound or pattern of sounds recorded from nature or produced electronically and used to mask unwanted noise or fill a discomforting silence.

   You can program the machine to play ocean waves, a rainforest, a thunderstorm, or whatever white noise helps you to relax.

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white noise British  

noun

1. 1. sound or electrical noise that has a relatively wide continuous range of frequencies of uniform intensity

   2. noise containing all frequencies rising in level by six decibels every octave

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Etymology

Origin of white noise

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

While our perception of salt, sweet and sour is reduced in the presence of white noise, umami is not, and tomatoes, and tomato juice is rich in umami.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

Katherine Ryan couldn’t look any more serene sitting in the dark with her laptop open, white noise machine humming and an infant sleeping in her arms.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

"At some point, it becomes a bit of a white noise," he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

"Part of it is actually teaching them to ignore the white noise of silly terms like nepo baby, which you can't really do anything about."

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

I take some deep breaths—Dr. Cain would be so proud I remember her coping tricks—to try to get the static-y white noise in my brain to shut up.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell