Meaning & use
white good
Last updated
Meaning
nounusually pluralbusiness
A large household appliance such as a refrigerator, washing machine or oven, traditionally finished in white.
Grammar: Almost always plural: white goods are on the second floor; singular is rare.
Patterns
- white goods
- a white goods store
The store sells white goods such as fridges and dishwashers.
A white good like a washing machine can last ten years or more.
Delivery of white goods is free within the city.
Word forms
| plural | white goods |
|---|
Common combinations
- white goods store
- The white goods store is having a sale this weekend.
- white goods manufacturer
- The white goods manufacturer announced new energy-saving models.
- sales of white goods
- Sales of white goods rise before the holidays.
- recycle white goods
- The council will collect and recycle white goods.
- white goods aisle
- We found the freezers in the white goods aisle.
Synonyms and how they differ
- major appliance
- Major appliance is the usual American term, whereas white goods is more British and common in the trade.
- household appliance
- Household appliance is wider and includes small items like toasters, while white goods are large kitchen and laundry machines.
- home appliance
- Home appliance covers any machine used in the home, while white goods refers to the large, heavy ones.
Opposites
Word family
- goods noun
- things for sale
- brown goods noun
- electronics such as televisions and stereos
- whiteware noun
- another word for white goods, used in Canada and Australia
Commonly confused: white good or brown goods?
white good vs brown goods
Brown goods are home entertainment devices like televisions, while white goods are kitchen and laundry appliances.
Practice
The shop's ___ section has refrigerators, washing machines and cookers.
Choose one answer.
White goods are large household appliances. Brown goods are entertainment electronics, dry goods are items such as grain or fabric, and soft goods are textiles.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “white good”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.