whiteout

noun

white·​out ˈ(h)wīt-ˌau̇t How to pronounce whiteout (audio)
: a surface weather condition in a snow-covered area (such as a polar region) in which no object casts a shadow, the horizon cannot be seen, and only dark objects are discernible
also : a blizzard that severely reduces visibility

Examples of whiteout in a Sentence

We got caught in a whiteout.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The family was traveling in the area during a winter storm that brought heavy snow and whiteout conditions to northern Arizona. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025 Blizzard warnings stretched from Kansas to Minnesota on Wednesday, creating dangerous whiteout conditions that led to semis' being overturned on roadways. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025 Combined with high winds, forecasters warned of whiteout conditions. — TIME, 20 Mar. 2025 Heavy snow and high winds could lead to whiteout conditions, making roads impassable in some areas, the NWS has warned. — Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whiteout

Word History

Etymology

white entry 1 + -out (in blackout)

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whiteout was in 1946

Rhymes for whiteout

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Browse Nearby Words

whiteout
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Cite this Entry

“Whiteout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiteout. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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