Phrase guide

white space

noun · 3 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.

  • UK: /ˈwaɪtˌspeɪs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪs

1

noun

Meaning 1

White area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page or computer display; blanks and the vertical blank lines in between paragraphs, or other organized rows of text lines (poetry).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A contiguous collection of one or more characters that each represents horizontal or vertical space in typography.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: computer, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, science, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Free time seen as an opportunity for gainful activity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: business

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

* (free time): Suggesting unfilled spaces on a calendar or schedule.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: bílé místo — white area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page
  • Finnish: tyhjä tila — white area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page
  • German: Leerraum — white area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page
  • Icelandic: bil — white area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page
  • Icelandic: hvítbil — white area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page
  • Polish: biały znak — white area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page
  • Portuguese: espaço em branco — white area between written characters and graphic regions on a produced page
  • Czech: bílý znak — single character or series of characters
  • Czech: bílé znaky — single character or series of characters
  • Finnish: tyhjätilamerkki — single character or series of characters
  • German: Leerzeichen — single character or series of characters
  • Icelandic: bil — single character or series of characters
  • Icelandic: hvítbil — single character or series of characters
  • Macedonian: белина (belina) — single character or series of characters
  • Polish: biały znak — single character or series of characters