white noise

[wahyt noiz, hwahyt] / ˈwaɪt ˈnɔɪz, ˈʰwaɪt /

NOUN

acoustical noise

Synonyms

WEAK

broadcasting noise electrical noise hiss hissing hum moan purl siss sissing white sound

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We went to the Norton Simon Museum together in November, on the kind of gray Pasadena day when the 210 Freeway roars in the background like white noise.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Broadband noise also includes white noise and other variations such as brown and blue noise.

From Science Daily • Feb. 4, 2026

"At some point, it becomes a bit of a white noise," he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

The Restore 3 is a sleeper’s Swiss Army knife, with a variety of white noise and other ambient sounds, along with gentle lighting to ease you into—and out of—your bed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025

In fact, the essence of noise, "white noise," is basically every pitch at once, so that no particular pitch is heard.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones