white paper

American  

[hwahyt pey-per, wahyt, hwahyt-pey-per, wahyt] / ˈʰwaɪt ˈpeɪ pər, ˈwaɪt, ˈʰwaɪtˌpeɪ pər, ˈwaɪt /

noun

1. paper bleached white.

2. an official governmental report.

3. an authoritative report issued by any organization.

   The TV network presented its white paper on news coverage of major crimes.

4. an official British government publication on a specific subject prepared by a committee and presented to the House of Commons, usually reporting results of a recent investigation or summarizing policy.

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white paper British  

noun

1. (often capitals) an official government report in any of a number of countries, including Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, which sets out the government's policy on a matter that is or will come before Parliament

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Etymology

Origin of white paper

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

Nvidia kicked off the race to develop solid-state transformers last year when it published a white paper outlining its blueprint for next-generation data centers.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

Now, Google researchers have published a white paper indicating that Q-Day—the point where quantum computers can crack the encryption protecting much of the world’s data—isn’t a distant threat.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

"So some are filled with that and then others are filled with the white paper tube with a longer tip in it."

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The hearings are ostensibly intended to gather information, all of which will be summarized in a white paper being written by researchers at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

I picked up a pencil and held it over a sheet of white paper, but my feelings stood in the way of my words.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright