film noir

noun

-ˈnwär 

plural film noirs -ˈnwär(z)  or films noir or films noirs -ˈnwär 

: a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music

also : a film of this type

Examples of film noir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The color has the comic book base and the black-and-white has certainly the film noir base. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 6 June 2026

The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Yet, the show fails to nail the decadence of true Old Hollywood film noir. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 May 2026

People think of Los Angeles in the past as film noir or things in the ’30s. — Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, black film

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for film noir

• boudoir
• moire