white lie
noun
: a lie about a small or unimportant matter that someone tells to avoid hurting another person
He told a (little) white lie as his excuse for missing the party.
Examples of white lie in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When Costco asked for a photograph, Ellinger slid into a tattoo parlor chair and turned the little white lie into a permanent reality.
—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
His translator had prepared a white lie to explain his presence — that Gordon was an investor who was looking to buy land and also happened to be interested in the local temples.
—
Matthew Campbell,
Bloomberg,
22 May 2026
The little white lie seems wrong, and does not discourage the gentleman from issuing more unwanted invitations.
—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
Frey chalked the moment up to a white lie and continued with the relationship.
—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
One of Yungblud’s most formative musical memories was the white lie his grandma told him that his estranged grandfather was none other than Rod Stewart.
—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
His career sprouted from a little white lie and a big black eye.
—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Some secrets should be left secret, Morticia believes, but little white lie secrets should be exposed.
—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
While being truthful is an important value, telling a white lie can be acceptable.
—
Juli Fraga,
CNBC,
29 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
His translator had prepared a white lie to explain his presence — that Gordon was an investor who was looking to buy land and also happened to be interested in the local temples.
—
Matthew Campbell,
Bloomberg,
22 May 2026
The little white lie seems wrong, and does not discourage the gentleman from issuing more unwanted invitations.
—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
Frey chalked the moment up to a white lie and continued with the relationship.
—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
One of Yungblud’s most formative musical memories was the white lie his grandma told him that his estranged grandfather was none other than Rod Stewart.
—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
His career sprouted from a little white lie and a big black eye.
—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Some secrets should be left secret, Morticia believes, but little white lie secrets should be exposed.
—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
While being truthful is an important value, telling a white lie can be acceptable.
—
Juli Fraga,
CNBC,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“White lie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20lie. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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