Whiteness: meaning, definitions and examples

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whiteness

 

[ ˈwaɪtnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

color

The quality or state of being white in color.

Synonyms

albinism, bleached, pallor

Examples of usage

  • The whiteness of the snow was blinding in the sunlight.
  • She admired the purity of the whiteness of the wedding dress.
  • The whiteness of the walls made the room feel more spacious.
Context #2 | Noun

race

The state of being white in terms of race or ethnicity.

Synonyms

Caucasian, Eurocentric, white person

Examples of usage

  • Whiteness has historically been associated with privilege and power in many societies.
  • Discussions about whiteness and privilege are important in understanding systemic racism.
  • The concept of whiteness as a social construct is a topic of academic study.

Translations

Translations of the word "whiteness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 brancura

🇮🇳 श्वेतता

🇩🇪 Weißheit

🇮🇩 putih

🇺🇦 білизна

🇵🇱 białość

🇯🇵 白さ

🇫🇷 blancheur

🇪🇸 blancura

🇹🇷 beyazlık

🇰🇷 백색

🇸🇦 بياض

🇨🇿 bělost

🇸🇰 bielosť

🇨🇳 白色

🇸🇮 belina

🇮🇸 hvítleiki

🇰🇿 ақтық

🇬🇪 თეთრიანობა

🇦🇿 ağlıq

🇲🇽 blancura

Etymology

The word 'whiteness' originated in the 16th century and is derived from the Middle English word 'whitenes'. It is a combination of the word 'white' and the suffix '-ness', which denotes a state or quality. The concept of whiteness has evolved over time and is deeply intertwined with issues of race, ethnicity, and privilege.

See also: white, whiten, whitened, whitener, whitening, whiteout, whiter, whitewater.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,178, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.