white flight
noun
: the departure of whites from places (such as urban neighborhoods or schools) increasingly or predominantly populated by minorities
Examples of white flight in a Sentence
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Detroit’s ranking as the most affordable city in Remitly’s list reflects the city’s decades-long population loss, driven by white flight and a decline in the auto industry, Lens said.
—
Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
In a downtown emptied by white flight and recession, the Orpheum was used primarily for DIY events, which is why Jim Dickinson chose the spot for a series of shows celebrating local music.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
By contrast, South Africa faced waves of white flight in the early 1960s, during the late 1970s, and throughout the 1980s.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Putting Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth in the discussion as potential landing sites is mostly for leverage, as the Stars are part of a trend of teams participating in the sports version of white flight, and heading to the ‘burbs.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2025
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Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
In a downtown emptied by white flight and recession, the Orpheum was used primarily for DIY events, which is why Jim Dickinson chose the spot for a series of shows celebrating local music.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 8 Feb. 2026
By contrast, South Africa faced waves of white flight in the early 1960s, during the late 1970s, and throughout the 1980s.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
Putting Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth in the discussion as potential landing sites is mostly for leverage, as the Stars are part of a trend of teams participating in the sports version of white flight, and heading to the ‘burbs.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for white flight
Cite this Entry
“White flight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20flight. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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