Whiteheaded

Whiteheaded is a compound English adjective meaning “having a white head.” It is used primarily as a descriptive term in natural history and horticulture, and less commonly in medical language.

In biology and ornithology, whiteheaded is often found in common names for species that display a pale or predominantly white head region. The descriptor is descriptive rather than taxonomic, and it helps identify distinguishing features in field guides and observation notes. Notable examples in common usage include the white-headed duck and several woodpeckers or other birds whose heads are notably light-colored. The term may appear in regional or historical naming as scientists and enthusiasts describe morphology.

In botany and horticulture, whiteheaded can describe plant forms whose inflorescences or flower heads appear pale or white. For example, a plant cultivar with a pale or white bloom cluster might be described informally as having a whiteheaded head. The term is descriptive and not a formal scientific designation.

In medicine, whitehead refers to a type of acne lesion—a closed comedo with a white or cream-colored top. While “whiteheaded” can be used informally to describe skin with such lesions, it is not a standard clinical term and is more likely to appear in everyday language or patient descriptions than in medical nomenclature.

Etymology: derived from white + head, reflecting the literal coloration feature that the adjective describes.

See also: whitehead, head, anatomy, taxonomy.