whitish

Whitish is an adjective that describes something having a slight white color or appearing almost white. It conveys a degree of whiteness rather than a precise color, and it is often used when an exact shade cannot be specified or is not necessary.

From white plus the suffix -ish, it signals approximation. In everyday speech, whitish can describe a pale hair, light skin undertone, animal fur, coatings, or surfaces that look off-white rather than pure white. It can also describe textures such as a whitish film, bloom, or patina.

Color science and printing do not define “whitish” as a standard color name. Instead, it corresponds to a high luminance with very low saturation, close to white in common perception. Color measurements such as whiteness indices or the CIE Lab color space can quantify whiteness without using the word.

Examples: a whitish tint in daylight, a whitish-gray sweater, or a whitish powder on fruit. The term remains inherently subjective, as lighting, surrounding colors, and material reflectance influence perceived whiteness.