whiteout

Meanings

Plural: whiteouts

Noun

• an arctic atmospheric condition with clouds over snow produce a uniform whiteness and objects are difficult to see; occurs when the light reflected off the snow equals the light coming through the clouds
• A heavy snowstorm; a blizzard.
• Any weather condition in which visibility and contrast are severely reduced by snow or sand causing the horizon and physical features of the terrain to disappear.
• Correction fluid (from the brand name Wite-Out).
• A sporting event where all in attendance are urged to wear white apparel.
• The simulated erasure of a file, etc. on a read-only volume.
• The suppression of a story by the media, analogously to deleting information with correction fluid.
• The silencing of voices and perspectives other than those of white men.

Verb

• cover up with a liquid correction fluid
• lose daylight visibility in heavy fog, snow, or rain

Synonyms

white out, white-out

Related Words

blackout, brownout, grayout, greyout