white matter

noun

: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the cortical gray matter

Examples of white matter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Neurobiological studies have shown that people with ADHD have identifiable differences in several brain regions, including their connections in the deep neural tissue known as white matter and the reward circuitry of the brain. —Deldhy Nicolás Moya Sánchez, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026

One subtype was marked by early damage concentrated in the brain’s cortex, while the other was dominated by degeneration in white matter regions. —New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026

Previous studies have also found that space travel can cause changes in the brain’s white matter, leading to sensorimotor issuesand a condition commonly known as Space Adaptation Syndrome. —Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 Jan. 2026

When evaluating for cognitive decline, doctors often look for changes in brain volume that may signal dementia, as well as alterations in the brain’s white matter or neuronal connections. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for white matter

• antimatter
• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• natter

Kids Definition

white matter

noun

: whitish nerve tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of nerve fibers enclosed in a fatty material and that lies under the gray matter

Medical Definition

white matter

noun

: neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the gray matter