white noise

[wahyt noiz, hwahyt]

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.

white noise

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of white noise¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

"I didn't see the point in speaking. My head at that time was full of white noise. I had no room for words."

From BBC

And I’m sure there’s plenty of people where it might just be white noise to them — like, “Skip — I don’t need this.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I really think it is white noise around what is a huge, energetic movement now, Reform, coming across the country and coming for the other two parties," she told the BBC.

From BBC

It’s pleasurable to experience—a white noise machine of human suffering....

From Salon

Occasionally the studio will play white noise to help exercisers focus.

From Los Angeles Times