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

The soundscape options include rain, forest noises, white noise and more. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

Some wireless earbuds even have ANC that, depending on the volume of your surroundings, will adjust white noise levels to balance everything out. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 July 2025

The sound of everyday white noise, happening outside of the window facing a busy street. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025

By the time the ballpark broke out into a cacophony of deafening white noise — as near-life-size cutouts of Mia Scott, Reese Atwood, Teagan Kavan, Leighann Goode and just about every Longhorn bounced up and down in the bleachers — many Texas Tech fans had cleared the arena. —Lauren Merola, New York Times, 7 June 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