black belt

1 of 2

noun (1)

: one who holds the rating of expert in various arts of self-defense (such as judo and karate)

also : the rating itself

black belt

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈblak-ˌbelt 

1

: an area characterized by rich black soil

2

often Black Belt : an area densely populated by Black people

The story of civil rights in Tuskegee is also a study in ambiguity, for it is a history at once unusual and typical of the Southern black belt.

—Jim Haskins

Examples of black belt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Besides his success as a Jiu Jitsu competitor, Cooligan is a youth instructor at Team Renzo Gracie in Orlando, which was founded by his father, Pat Cooligan, a fourth degree black belt. —Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026

The philanthropic couple held each other tight at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in May as Amal wore a silver jumpsuit accessorized with a black belt while George complimented the look in a dark silver suit. —Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026

On top of Megadeth’s Grammy accolades and double-platinum record sales, Mustaine beat throat cancer in 2019, holds black belts in taekwondo and karate, and owns a successful winemaking business with his wife and daughter. —Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026

Melvin Council stood amid a crowd of his Kansas teammates, clenching a black belt in his fist. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1911, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for black belt

• heartfelt
• unfelt
• celt
• dealt
• dwelt
• felt
• knelt
• melt
• pelt
• smelt
• spelt
• veldt

Kids Definition

black belt

noun

: one holding the rating of expert especially in various arts of self-defense (as karate)

also : the rating itself

Geographical Definition

Black Belt

geographical name

strip of rolling prairie land extending across central Alabama and Mississippi with fertile black clayey soil formerly notable for the production of cotton