Gaussian noise is noise that has a probability density function (pdf) of the Normal distribution (aka Gaussian distribution). It is most commonly used as additive white noise to yield additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN).

Gaussian noise is sometimes misunderstood to be white gaussian noise, but this is not so. Strictly speaking, Gaussian noise only means noise with pdf of the Gaussian distribution, which says nothing to correlation of the noise in time. Labeling Gaussian noise as white describes the correlation of the noise. It is necessary to use "white Gaussian noise" to be correct.