white goods

plural noun

1
a
: white fabrics especially of cotton or linen
b
: articles (such as sheets, towels, or curtains) originally or typically made of white cloth
2
: major household appliances (such as stoves and refrigerators) that are typically finished in white enamel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web If, due to prolonged power outages, residents get rid of white goods such as refrigerators, those should also be separated. Faimon Roberts, NOLA.com, 30 Oct. 2020 Even worse, only 6% intended to buy white goods and electronic appliances such as televisions, air conditioners, and refrigerators. Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 26 Sep. 2022 Sensing also expects that other sectors, such as white goods, will borrow a page from automotive manufacturers. Forbes, 1 June 2021 One danger is that curbs on property lending and development hit spending on goods more broadly, especially since spending on big consumer durables like white goods tends to move with housing. Jacky Wong, WSJ, 11 May 2021 For Fabio Wibmer though, once he's finished washing his clothes, white goods provide the perfect obstacle for his next trick. Ben Morse, CNN, 30 May 2020 The city will also implement a higher curbside collection fee for white goods like washers, dryers, and refrigerators, which will cost $25 each. John Hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Jan. 2020 Perversely, this would harm Germany’s Bosch that manufacturers Siemens white goods under license. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2020 Even now more than six in 10 people will shop for white goods the traditional way—from a retail store. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, 19 Sep. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'white goods.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of white goods was in 1807

Dictionary Entries Near white goods

Cite this Entry

“White goods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20goods. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

white goods

noun plural
1
: articles of cloth (as sheets, towels, or curtains) used in the bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen
2
: major household appliances (as stoves and refrigerators) that typically are white-colored
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