whitehall
whitehall Lexical Profile
• noun
British The British Government or its civil service and administrative ministries collectively, referred to by metonymy from the London street where many major departments are headquartered.
"Senior officials in Whitehall spent months drafting the new regulatory framework before presenting it to Parliament."
British A major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in central London, England, running south from Trafalgar Square toward the Houses of Parliament and lined with government departments and national monuments.
"Thousands of spectators lined Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday to watch the annual procession to the Cenotaph."
British A former royal palace in Westminster, London, that served as the main residence of English monarchs from 1530 until most of it was destroyed by fire in 1698, leaving only the Banqueting House.
"During the reign of Henry VIII, Whitehall was expanded into one of the largest royal residences in Europe."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British political commentary, 'Whitehall' refers specifically to the administrative civil service and government ministries, whereas 'Westminster' refers to the elected Parliament and legislature.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.