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

Amsterdam is crowded, and cars, trams, bikers, and pedestrians seem to float by from all directions in silence … lost in the white noise of breezing through this dreamy city on two wheels. — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026

Earplugs, white noise machines or sleep earbuds can reduce or mask snoring sounds. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

What started as a niche Bose experiment has grown into a competitive market where sleep earbuds now rival white noise machines and traditional earplugs as go-to solutions for nighttime noise. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

These days, email inboxes are bursting at their digital seams—bloated with cold sales offers and other white noise. — James Davis, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

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