whiteout

noun

white·​out ˈ(h)wīt-ˌau̇t 

: a surface weather condition in a snow-covered area (such as a polar region) in which no object casts a shadow, the horizon cannot be seen, and only dark objects are discernible

also : a blizzard that severely reduces visibility

Examples of whiteout in a Sentence

We got caught in a whiteout.

Recent Examples on the Web

Other stories include a brave school bus driver who keeps the kids safe in a whiteout snowstorm, a woman who saves all her wedding dresses, two speculative fiction pieces about a woman who buys insurance to spend time in an afterlife as pure thought, and one involving school shooting. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026

The Minnesota Department of Transportation issued a no travel advisory on Sunday morning for southern Minnesota due to the whiteout conditions. —Aki Nace, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026

Chicago could go from thunderstorms on Sunday night to snow and whiteout conditions on Monday. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026

Road closures, whiteout conditions, and traffic had disrupted our Ski and Skate Week, when school closes so families can travel and enjoy snowsports. —Leslie Hsu Oh, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

white entry 1 + -out (in blackout)

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whiteout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout