Phrase guide

white glove test

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An examination of cleanliness, hygiene or other cleaning-related standards.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Looking at the imprint his hand had left on the visible layer of dust, he realized his home would certainly not pass his mother's white glove test.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the 1950s American image of putting on a white glove and running a finger along a spot to see how much dirt and dust is accumulated as a way of measuring how well the area has been kept clean.