lily-white: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary; also used in critical social/political contexts.
Quick answer
What does “lily-white” mean?
Extremely or purely white, like the petals of a lily flower.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Extremely or purely white, like the petals of a lily flower.
1. Characterized by moral purity, innocence, or impeccable behaviour. 2. (Often derogatory) Exclusively or entirely consisting of white people; characterized by a lack of racial diversity or integration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both literal and moral senses are used in both varieties. The socio-political sense relating to racial segregation/homogeneity is more frequently encountered in American English due to the specific history of racial discourse in the US.
Connotations
UK: Stronger association with the literal colour and the moral sense. The racial connotation is understood but less frequently the primary meaning. US: The racial connotation is more immediately salient and often the intended meaning in political/social commentary.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but the word is more recognized in the US in its critical socio-political sense.
Grammar
How to Use “lily-white” in a Sentence
[be/look/seem] lily-white[accuse sth of being] lily-whiteVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lily-white” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Her lily-white hands never saw a day of hard labour.
- The report aimed to present a lily-white version of the department's history.
American English
- The suburb remained stubbornly lily-white for decades.
- Few politicians have a truly lily-white past.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in PR/ethics contexts: 'The company's record is not exactly lily-white.'
Academic
Used in sociological/historical texts analysing segregation: 'lily-white labour unions'.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Mostly for emphasis: 'She kept her gloves lily-white.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lily-white”
- Using it as a neutral synonym for 'white' (e.g., 'a lily-white car'). Overusing it. Missing its critical edge in the socio-political sense.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency term. It is used for specific emphasis, either on extreme whiteness/purity or in socio-political commentary.
Yes. While its core meanings are positive, it is often used negatively to criticise institutions, neighbourhoods, or groups for being exclusively white and lacking diversity.
Yes, it is almost always written with a hyphen: 'lily-white'.
Both mean very white. 'Snow-white' is more common and neutral. 'Lily-white' adds connotations of delicate purity (from the flower) and, in modern use, can carry the critical socio-political meaning that 'snow-white' lacks.
Extremely or purely white, like the petals of a lily flower.
Lily-white is usually formal, literary; also used in critical social/political contexts. in register.
Lily-white: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɪli ˈwaɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɪli ˈ(h)waɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not] have a lily-white record”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a pure, white LILY flower. The phrase combines the image (lily) with the colour (white) for extreme emphasis.
Conceptual Metaphor
WHITE IS PURITY / WHITE IS EXCLUSION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lily-white' MOST likely to be used critically?