white noise

noun

1

a

: a heterogeneous mixture of sound waves extending over a wide frequency range compare pink noise

b

: a constant background noise

especially : one that drowns out other sounds

2

: meaningless or distracting commotion, hubbub, or chatter

the white noise of policy and politics in America

—Joseph Nocera

Examples of white noise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most parents play white noise sounds, but some play lullabies to soothe their newborn at night. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025

Ear plugs, white noise, this is his problem to solve. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

But Martel cuts through the white noise of unanswered questions and uncertainties with those drone cameras that turn audiences into voyeurs of someone else’s Earth. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025

With speakers built into the ears, the Bluetooth eye mask gives you over 14 hours of music, podcasts, or white noise—whatever your in-flight preference is—on a single charge. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for white noise

• counterpoise
• equipoise
• alloys
• annoys
• carboys
• convoys
• cowboys
• deploys
• destroys
• employes
• employs
• enjoys

Kids Definition

white noise

noun

1

: an even mixture of sound waves extending over a wide frequency range

2

: a constant background noise

especially : one that drowns out other sounds

Medical Definition

white noise

noun

: a heterogeneous mixture of sound waves extending over a wide frequency range that has been used to mask out unwanted noise interfering with sleep

called also white sound