Whitecoated

Whitecoated is an adjective referring to someone who wears a white laboratory or medical coat, or to objects that bear a white coating. The term is commonly applied to people in healthcare and science, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and researchers.

Historically, the white coat has symbolized cleanliness, professionalism, and authority in medicine. It serves practical purposes such as protecting clothing and preventing contamination. The color white is thought to convey sterility and trust, though its cultural meaning has evolved, and some institutions experiment with non-white or colored coats.

In contemporary practice, policies on wearing white coats vary by setting. Some hospitals prefer scrubs because they are easier to clean and can reduce infection risk; others retain traditional white coats for ceremonial, professional, or signaling purposes. The term whitecoated may also appear in descriptions of surfaces or equipment finished with a white coating.

In medical contexts, related terms such as white coat syndrome or white coat hypertension describe the rise in measured blood pressure or anxiety triggered by clinical encounters with clinicians in white coats, highlighting the coat's psychological impact.

See also: white coat, lab coat, white coat syndrome, medical attire.