What does "whites" mean?
plural of white
Whites
/(h)waɪts/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: plural of white
- Grammar: whites is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: albedo, albumen, bleach, brighten.
- Useful contrasts: blackness, blacks, color.
- Usage evidence: The conflict between blacks and whites in the city became worse.
How to use "whites"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whites" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whites" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whites" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "whites" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "whites" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "albedo" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "whites", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 plural of white form-of, plural
- 2 A set of white clothes, especially as a uniform. plural, plural-only
"He walked somewhat mincingly, thin, in soiled whites, his brief-case under his arm."
- 3 plural of White form-of, plural
- 4 A set of white clothes, especially as a uniform.; The white uniform of a chef. plural, plural-only
- 5 A set of white clothes, especially as a uniform.; Cricket whites. plural, plural-only
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A set of white clothes, especially as a uniform.; A white uniform formerly worn by officers of United States Marine Corps. US, plural, plural-only
- 7 Linen, especially laundry, that is white. plural, plural-only
- 8 leukorrhea. informal, plural, plural-only
Verb
- 1 third-person singular simple present indicative of white form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Proper Noun
- 1 plural of White form-of, plural
- 2 Any of several sports teams whose uniform is predominantly white, particularly; The chariot-racing faction of the Roman circus and Constantinopolitan hippodrome that wore white. historical
"Directly opposite the imperial box in the Hippodrome were the seats assigned to the Blues, the Reds, the Whites, and the Greens. These were the colours of the chariot-racing factions, the professional organizations initially responsible for fielding the teams, though at some point in the fifth century they took charge of other public spectacles as well, and thus we can find factions even in cities which had no hippodromes."
- 3 Any of several sports teams whose uniform is predominantly white, particularly; The away team during international matches. UK, historical
"1996, S. Greenfield, "When the Whites Go Marching In? Racism and Resistances in English Football", Marquette Sports Law Review, Vol. 6, No. 2, Art. 7, p. 315: #*: "When the Whites go Marching In" is a version of the hymn "When the Saints Go Marching In" and has been sung by football fans whilst attending "away" matches in other countries... In this context the reference is to English supporters indicating their disapproval of black players."
- 4 Any of several sports teams whose uniform is predominantly white, particularly; Juventus. historical
Example
"The conflict between blacks and whites in the city became worse."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "whites"?
Common synonyms include: albedo, albumen, bleach, brighten, caucasians, dungarees.
How do you use "whites" in a sentence?
The conflict between blacks and whites in the city became worse.
How do you pronounce "whites"?
Pronounced /(h)waɪts/.
Etymology
In reference to the ancient Roman and medieval Byzantine racing faction, a calque of Latin albī (“Whites”), albātī (“White-Clads”), factio alba (“the white faction”), or factio albata (“the white-clad faction”) and Byzantine Greek Λευκοὶ (Leukoì, “Whites”).