white coat hypertension
Elevated blood pressure measured by a medical practitioner and deemed to result from the patient's emotional response to the medical environment.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“My blood pressure is high only because of white coat hypertension.”
“I usually experience white coat hypertension when I see a new dentist.”
“The doctor noted that my high reading was likely white coat hypertension, as I felt very nervous in the clinic.”
“The nurse suggested I wear a heart monitor at home to prove that my high office readings are just white coat hypertension.”
“Since your blood pressure drops back to normal once you leave the hospital, you probably have a case of white coat hypertension.”
“Although his home readings remained within a healthy range, the patient exhibited consistent white coat hypertension during every clinical examination due to his underlying anxiety regarding medical settings.”
From white coat and hypertension, an 18th-century medical term. The compound describes the elevated blood pressure response triggered by the proximity of a practitioner wearing the traditional white clinical garment.
- 01
all fur coat and no knickers
Having a superficially positive appearance that is belied by the reality, e.g., superficially elegant and beautiful but actually common.
- 02
cut one's coat according to one's cloth
To live within one's means, without spending more than is affordable.
- 03
pearly whites
Teeth.
- 04
sugar coated
Alternative form of sugarcoated.
- 05
turn one's coat
To turn against a previous affiliation or allegiance.
- 06
wash a blackamoor white
To labour in vain, especially so as to present something as better than it really is; to whitewash.
- 07
white bread
Bread made from white flour.
- 08
white hat
A good person; a hero.
Last updated August 10, 2026