white paper

[hwahyt pey-per, wahyt, hwahyt-pey-per, wahyt]

noun

1. paper bleached white.

2. an official governmental report.

3. an authoritative report issued by any organization.

   The TV network presented its white paper on news coverage of major crimes.

4. an official British government publication on a specific subject prepared by a committee and presented to the House of Commons, usually reporting results of a recent investigation or summarizing policy.

white paper

noun

1. (often capitals) an official government report in any of a number of countries, including Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, which sets out the government's policy on a matter that is or will come before Parliament

Word History and Origins

Origin of white paper¹

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

Any fee increases in England would be announced by the Department for Education, which is due to publish its higher education white paper this autumn.

From BBC

The government previously said it inherited a system "left on its knees" and is due to set out its plans for reform in a white paper in October.

From BBC

In her memoir, Sturgeon claimed that her predecessor was opposed to gay marriage and that he did not read the entirety of his government's white paper on Scottish independence, published before the 2014 referendum.

From BBC

A key period in the lead-up to the poll was her preparation, as deputy first minister, of a white paper setting out the case for independence.

From BBC

She claimed Salmond did not fully read the Scottish government's white paper Scotland's Future, which set out its plans for setting up an independent state.

From BBC