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

As of February, staffers from DOGE had pushed top-ranking officials at the Department of Education out of their offices, rearranged the furniture and set up white noise machines to muffle their voices, according to employees at the agency. —Lora Kolodny,ari Levy, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025

Consider investing in blackout curtains or a white noise machine. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025

Some people buy a white noise machine, but there are many YouTube videos and white noise apps to choose from. —Ankur Bindal, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Try to sleep in a quiet environment, eliminating noise from outside sources by using earplugs or white noise or brown noise (a variety of calming background sounds based on frequency). —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 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