Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
white-elephant
Noun
/ˈwaɪt ˈɛlɪfənt/
Definition
A white elephant refers to a possession that is more of a burden than a benefit. It is often expensive to maintain and is difficult to dispose of.
Examples
- Owning that abandoned property turned out to be a white elephant for him.
- The company’s new office was a white elephant, costing them more to maintain than they could afford.
Meaning
The term originates from the ancient practice of giving a rare, sacred, and costly white elephant as a gift, where the recipient would then have to bear the costs of taking care of it.
Synonyms
- Burden
- Liability
- Costly possession
