white-shoe

adjective

ˈ(h)wīt-ˈshü 

: of, associated with, or characteristic of the privileged moneyed upper class : upper-crust

a white-shoe law firm

Examples of white-shoe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Linklaters approached Cleary Gottlieb about a merger earlier this year and was rebuffed, in what would have been the latest tie-up of white-shoe law firms, according to people familiar with the matter. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 13 July 2026

Banks maintained long-standing relationships with corporate clients; white-shoe law firms didn’t compete for business; hostile takeovers and the like were regarded as somewhat unsavory. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

The white-shoe law firm got caught red-handed. — Max Raskin, Washington Post, 19 May 2026

By owning their own buildings, white-shoe firms can maintain their properties in their own image. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for white-shoe

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou