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

Researchers theorized that this effect could result from removing pollutants that damage white matter in the brain. — Sanja Jelic, Verywell Health, 22 May 2026

Similarly, when planning for color-rich interiors, the right white matters. — Lauren Jones, Southern Living, 28 June 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

Here, white matter continues to grow in volume, resulting in the increasing refinement of communication networks within the brain. — Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026

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