black-and-blue

adjective

ˌbla-kən-ˈblü How to pronounce black-and-blue (audio)
: darkly discolored from blood effused by bruising

Examples of black-and-blue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Thursday morning, fat bees perched on black-and-blue sage flowers, and doves loudly fluttered from fruit tree to fruit tree. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026 Diarra Kilpatrick paired her form-fitting black-and-blue dress with opera gloves. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Baltimore maintains its bruising, black-and-blue identity under new coach Jesse Minter. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026 The black-and-blue habits started with the Nashville Predators, Arvidsson’s original club. — Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for black-and-blue

Word History

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black-and-blue was in 1568

Rhymes for black-and-blue

See All Rhymes for black-and-blue

Browse Nearby Words

blackamoor
black-and-blue
black-and-tan
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Black-and-blue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-and-blue. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

black-and-blue

adjective
ˌblak-ən-ˈblü
: darkly discolored as the result of a bruise

Medical Definition

black-and-blue

adjective
ˌblak-ən-ˈblü How to pronounce black-and-blue (audio)
: darkly discolored from blood effused by bruising

More from Merriam-Webster on black-and-blue

Nglish: Translation of black-and-blue for Spanish Speakers

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