white noise

noun

Definition of white noise

1a : 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 Help her baby fall asleep anywhere with this white noise machine. — Corinne Sullivan, Woman's Day, 28 Apr. 2022 Bedtime never sounded so enticing until this white noise machine came along. — Shanon Maglente, Good Housekeeping, 20 Apr. 2022 For the best naps and a higher sleep quality, a white noise machine could just be a gamechanger. — Sarah Madaus, SELF, 18 Feb. 2022 With a built-in Bluetooth 5.2 module, microphone, and two high-fidelity speakers, the sound quality is crystal clear, perfect for listening to music, white noise, or even nature sounds. — EW.com, 21 Apr. 2022 Lana Del Rey, white noise, sleep meditation music, Taylor Swift, and the Harry Potter audiobook, naturally. — Ana Escalante, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2022 Without that connection, teaching just becomes white noise. — Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022 Plus, the standing fan can also act as a white noise machine overnight, crafting a calm humming noise. — Amy Schulman, PEOPLE.com, 23 July 2021 Beresin advised that white noise is helpful in covering up sounds that might be scary during the night. — Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2022 See More

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

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