white paper

noun

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of white paper

1 : a government report on any subject; especially : a British publication that is usually less extensive than a blue book

2 : a detailed or authoritative report

Recent Examples of white paper from the Web

Takahata underscores the authenticity of the moment by having the watercolor backgrounds fade into the surrounding white paper, suggesting the incompleteness of memory.

— charles solomon, latimes.com, "Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata was a true poet of Japanese animation," 9 Apr. 2018
Amanda Worthington, a principal at recruitment firm Heidrick and Struggles—which partnered with Camber to produce a recent white paper celebrating the pledge’s successes—has been working with outdoor industry companies for eight years.

— kassondra cloos, Outside Online, "We Need More Women of Color Working in the Outdoors," 3 Apr. 2018
Jean Kepler, a 37-year-old white mother and civil-rights activist from Pleasantville, N.Y., near White Plains, wrote Dr. King a three-page letter with blue ink on white paper.

— cameron mcwhirter, WSJ, "Found: The Long-Lost Link to Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Speech," 30 Mar. 2018
Overall, however, the pro-development faction seemed far happier with the white paper than the preservationists.

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "Philadelphia's preservation reform effort has lost its way | Inga Saffron," 29 Mar. 2018
Nirenberg has published and circulated lengthy white papers explaining his position on issues from water policy to transportation, against the recommendation of his political consultants.

— josh baugh, San Antonio Express-News, "Nirenberg knew immediately that he’d eventually marry Erika Prosper," 17 Mar. 2018
Kansas last year imposed a requirement that clinics identify their doctors for patients and provide information about them — specifically in 12-point Times New Roman type on white paper.

— john hanna, The Seattle Times, "Kansas governor’s ‘new day’ won’t change key policy stances," 3 Feb. 2018
Stretching hundreds of feet, the exhibit held more than 200 pieces of white paper, one honoring each victim who died in a mass school shooting over the the last half-century.

— jenny jarvie, latimes.com, "With just string, zip ties and paper, one woman created a gun victim memorial that's hard to ignore, and even harder to look at," 25 Mar. 2018
In November, Tokyo’s annual white paper by the Justice Ministry found that over 25 percent of the population is older than 65.

— christina zhao, Newsweek, "Senior Citizens in Japan Are Committing Crimes Because They Want to Go to Jail," 21 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of white paper

1884

Learn More about white paper

See words that rhyme with white paper

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up white paper? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

white paper

Definition of white paper

Recent Examples of white paper from the Web

First Known Use of white paper

Learn More about white paper

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

cathexis

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

Name That Thing

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

white paper

Definition of white paper

Recent Examples of white paper from the Web

First Known Use of white paper

Learn More about white paper

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes