black eye

noun

1
: a discoloration of the skin around the eye from bruising
2
b
: a bad reputation

Examples of black eye in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The woman with the black eye was not included in the police report. Caitlin McGlade, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024 Signs of a struggle Gareth Pursehouse appeared to have a black eye and a bite mark on his bicep. Cameron Rubner, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2024 The insects have green bodies and black eyes and are most active during the evening and nighttime hours. Joyce Orlando, The Courier-Journal, 19 Jan. 2024 That’s when the woman began hitting the 13-year-old in the face, giving him a black eye, police said. Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 22 Feb. 2024 Next week begins the first of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City's three-part reunion, which will no doubt dig up more info on that black eye, Monica's Gossip Gone Girl residency, and all the kookiness that made for one of the best seasons of any Housewives franchise, ever. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2024 Wells Fargo’s stock rose more than 7% at times Thursday afternoon after regulators closed a consent order placed on the bank for its fake accounts scandal, which has remained a black eye for the company. Forbes Daily, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 According to the charging document, Osman previously created another GoFundMe page in 2020 claiming that she was assaulted by a private security guard in Minneapolis and suffered a black eye, facial contusions and injuries to her leg. Michelle Garcia, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2024 That's a black eye that dwarfs even a 59-point destruction, if that's even possible. Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black eye.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of black eye was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near black eye

Cite this Entry

“Black eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20eye. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

black eye

noun
: a dark discoloration of the skin around the eye as the result of a bruise

Medical Definition

black eye

noun
: a discoloration of the skin around the eye from bruising

More from Merriam-Webster on black eye

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