1. A valuable possession whose upkeep is excessively expensive
   "The old mansion became a white elephant for the city, costing more to maintain than it was worth"
    
2. Albinic Indian elephant; rare and sometimes venerated in east Asia
   "The white elephant was considered a sacred animal in the kingdom"

Derived forms: white elephants

Type of: Elephas maximus, Indian elephant, possession

Encyclopedia: White elephant