black

adjective \ ˈblak \

Updated on: 13 Oct 2017

Definition of black

1 a :of the color black (see ²black 2)

a black sweater

a black dog

as black as coal

b (1) :very dark in color

his face was black with rage

(2) :having a very deep or low register (see ¹register 4b)

a bass with a black voice

(3) :heavy, serious

the play was a black intrigue

2 a :having dark skin, hair, and eyes :swarthy

the black Irish

b (1) often capitalized :of or relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin

black Americans

(2) :of or relating to the African-American people or their culture

black literature

a black college

black pride

black studies

(3) :typical or representative of the most readily perceived characteristics of black culture

trying to sound black

tried to play blacker jazz

3 :dressed in black (see ²black 2)

playing for the black team

4 :dirty, soiled

hands black with grime

5 a :characterized by the absence of light

a black night

b :reflecting or transmitting little or no light

black water

c :served without milk or cream

black coffee

6 a :thoroughly sinister or evil :wicked

a black deed

b :indicative of condemnation or discredit

got a black mark for being late

7 :connected with or invoking the supernatural and especially the devil

black magic

the black arts

8 a :very sad, gloomy, or calamitous

black despair

b :marked by the occurrence of disaster

black Friday

9 :characterized by hostility or angry discontent :sullen

black resentment filled his heart

10 chiefly British :subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by the trade union

a ship that was declared black by the union

11 a of propaganda :conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale

disseminating black propaganda

b :characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda

black radio

12 :characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque satire

black humor

13 :of or relating to covert intelligence operations

black government programs

—

blackish

play \ˈbla-kish\ adjective

—

blackly

adverb

—

blackness

noun

See black defined for English-language learners

See black defined for kids

Examples of black in a Sentence

a little black dress blends into the night very well

Recent Examples of black from the Web

The gap is larger for black women, who take home 60 cents for every white man's dollar, and Hispanic women, who average out at 55 cents.

— danielle paquette, chicagotribune.com, "Trump administration halts Obama-era rule to shrink the gender wage gap," 30 Aug. 2017
Outside, a black sheriff's deputy was doing his part to keep the peace, joking with those in line about ice cream, the media and eventually bringing them all together.

— keith bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "The good, the bad and the ugly outside a Confederate monument meeting," 30 Aug. 2017
As the highways wended across the U.S., proponents of the UDC’s historical vision such as the Ku Klux Klan lynched black people, burned crosses, and enacted and supported Jim Crow laws.

— erin blakemore, The Atlantic, "How the Confederacy Is Etched Into American Roads," 29 Aug. 2017
The body of the anchor was beige, and on its left fluke was a black swastika surrounded by a white circle.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Canadian Town’s Swastika-Adorned Anchor Causes Anger and Confusion," 25 Aug. 2017
Asay was accused of having white-supremacist tattoos and yelling slurs during the murder of a black man, Robert Booker.

— jen kirby, Daily Intelligencer, "Florida Executes Death-Row Inmate With Drug Never Before Used in Lethal Injections," 24 Aug. 2017
A black urn holding Maleigha's ashes sat at the front of the sanctuary, surrounded by pink flowers.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Family and friends remember 15-year-old homicide victim Maleigha Solonka Wednesday," 23 Aug. 2017
But six weeks before the rally, during a training weekend with a handful of other competitors in California's Borrego Springs, my optimism cratered into a black hole of fear and self-loathing.

— whitney joiner, Marie Claire, "72 Women. 1250 Miles. No GPS.," 23 Aug. 2017
The trip from Castle black to Winterfell is about 600 miles (a little farther from East watch), a raven going full speed (28mph) could probably make that trip in a little over a day.

— julie kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "A Game of Thrones Fan Just Explained How Much Time Passed in "Beyond the Wall"," 22 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'black.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of black

Middle English blak, from Old English blæc; akin to Old High German blah black, and probably to Latin flagrare to burn, Greek phlegein

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

black Synonyms

Synonyms

ebony, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitchy, raven, sable

Antonyms

white

Related Words

dark, dusky, inky; blackish, brunet (or brunette)

Near Antonyms

bright, brilliant, light, pale, palish

black

noun

Definition of black

1 :a pigment or dye of the color black :a black pigment or dye; especially :one consisting largely of carbon

2 :the achromatic (see achromatic 3) color of least lightness characteristically perceived to belong to objects that neither reflect nor transmit light

walls painted in black

3 :something that is black: such as

a :black clothing

looks good in black

b :a black animal (such as a horse)

c baseball :the narrow, black edge of home plate

a pitch on the black [=a pitch that crosses over the very edge of home plate]

4 a :a person belonging to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin

b :african-american

a position supported by both blacks and whites

blacks and other people of color

5 in board games :the pieces of a dark color in a board game for two players (such as chess)

black moves first

6 :total or nearly total absence of light

the black of night

7 :the condition of making a profit —usually used with the

operating in the black

— compare red

See black defined for English-language learners

Examples of black in a Sentence

The wall was painted in black.
a mixture of grays and blacks
She was dressed in black.

Recent Examples of black from the Web

Deputies searched a nearby apartment complex for the shooter, who was described as black, 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a beard.

— david hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Woman shot in Spring Valley; suspected shooter arrested," 29 Aug. 2017
Seniors were disproportionately affected, with half the victims being over 75, and blacks were 1.7 to 4 times more likely to die than whites.

— olga khazan, The Atlantic, "What Makes a Storm Deadly?," 28 Aug. 2017
While whites comprise nearly half of Chicago's population, blacks were about nine times more likely to be targeted by police than whites.

— dan hinkel, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago cops get more Tasers, but red flags remain," 25 Aug. 2017
The current situation rises out of the frustration of many white people that Obama proves that many blacks can and do succeed well beyond the capabilities of many white people.

— Howard County Times, "Racial divisions, animosity remain on full display [Letter]," 17 Aug. 2017
The plush sneakers come in a rainbow of muted fall colors like bordeaux, forest green, mustard, and black, while the platform sole elevates them beyond basic.

— leeann duggan, Glamour, "18 Sneakers to Buy After You've Worn Out Your Stan Smiths," 4 Aug. 2017
Wright says Baby's blacks, whites, and grays are meant to show his moral ambiguity, and his clothes darken as he's sucked deeper into the world of crime.

— dana schwartz, Marie Claire, "17 Easter Eggs You Probably Missed in 'Baby Driver'," 1 Aug. 2017
For her outdoor escapade, Gaga wore a black maxi skirt, a black, ruffled off-the-shoulder top, and nude stilettos.

— samantha swantek, Cosmopolitan, "This Photo of Lady Gaga on a Hike Is the Most Extra Thing You'll See Today," 22 June 2017
For years, blacks scaffolding surrounded the building.

— kelly poe, AL.com, "Why the scaffolding came down at the Brown Marx Building," 22 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of black

see ¹black

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

black Synonyms

Synonyms

dark, blackness, candlelight, darkness, dusk, gloaming, gloom, murk, night, semidarkness, shade, shadows, twilight, umbra

Antonyms

blaze, brightness, brilliance, day, daylight, glare, glow, light, lightness

Related Words

midnight; blackout, brownout, dimout; shadiness, umbrage; dullness (also dulness), somberness; cloudiness, fogginess, haziness, mistiness, murkiness; dimness, faintness, gloominess, grayness, paleness; half-light

Near Antonyms

moonlight, starlight, sunlight; effulgence, radiance, radiancy, shine, sunshine; incandescence, luminance, luminescence, luminosity, luminousness

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

black

verb

Definition of black

intransitive verb

:to become black (see ¹black)

transitive verb

1 :to make black

blacked his boots

2 chiefly British :to declare (something, such as a business or industry) subject to boycott by trade-union members

See black defined for English-language learners

Examples of black in a Sentence

He blacked his boots with polish.
Labor union members have blacked the company.

Recent Examples of black from the Web

Black political progress incited enormous antipathy among Southern whites, some factions of whom sought to reassert white supremacy as the law of the land.

— ismail muhammad, New Republic, "America Has a Long Tradition of Racist Mob Violence," 23 Aug. 2017
Superstar Taylor Swift released a cryptic teaser video across her social media channels around 11 a.m. EST – just days after blacking out her various accounts and website.

— lindsay kimble, PEOPLE.com, "'As a Show of Power, Taylor Swift Will Blot Out the Sun': Internet Reacts to Singer's Cryptic Clip on Eclipse Day," 21 Aug. 2017
Its rhythm was abnormal — that’s why she’d blacked out.

— lisa sanders, m.d., New York Times, "It Began with Sudden Blackouts. Then Came Some Alarming News.," 17 Aug. 2017
Hot sauce 2 limes, halved 1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained Combine riced cauliflower and water; cover with vented plastic wrap and microwave on High 6 minutes.

— the good housekeeping test kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Caribbean Chicken and "Rice"," 28 July 2017
When the packet arrived two days after Christmas, much of it was blacked out and useless.

— mike hendricks, kansascity.com, "Secret extreme vetting of immigrants delays the American dream," 25 June 2017
The congregation has marched in the Pride Parade for 20 years and supported Muslim communities and Black Lives Matter. among other social causes.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Seeing same fight, Pride Parade welcomes Black Lives Matters marchers," 24 June 2017
Trujillo, who has an R&B, funk and jazz background as a bassist, grew up listening to his parents' Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones albums, then drifted on his own to Black Sabbath and Motorhead.

— steve knopper, chicagotribune.com, "Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo has the gift of timing," 13 June 2017
Bxb7 (A mistake that gives Black a small advantage.

— michael ciamarra, AL.com, "Alabama's rising chess star Arden Markin, tournament prize winners," 11 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of black

see ¹black

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Black

biographical name \ ˈblak \

Definition of Black

Hugo LaFayette 1886–1971 American jurist and politician

Black

biographical name

Definition of Black

Sir James Whyte 1924–2010 British pharmacologist

Black

geographical name

Definition of Black

1 river 101 miles (162 kilometers) long in east central Louisiana flowing south into the Red River

2 or in China Amo play \ˈä-ˈmō\ or in Vietnam Da play \ˈdä\ river 500 miles (805 kilometers) long in southeastern Asia rising in central Yunnan, China, and flowing southeast to the Red River in northern Vietnam

British Definition of BLACK

black

adjective

British Definition of black

:subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by the trade union

a ship that was declared black by the union

black

verb

British Definition of black

transitive verb

:to declare (something, such as a business or industry) subject to boycott by trade-union members

Financial Definition of BLACK

black

noun

What It Is

Black is slang for profit. Profit, also called net income, is the amount remaining after all costs, depreciation, interest, taxes, and other expenses have been deducted from total sales. Profit is also referred to as the bottom line, net profit, or net earnings. The formula for profit is:

Total Sales - Total Expenses = Profit

Note that preferred stock dividends are typically included in the traditional net income calculation, but common stock dividends are not.

How It Works

Here is some information about Company XYZ for last year:

Using the formula and the information above, we can calculate that Company XYZ's profit was:

$1,000,000 - $500,000 - $300,000 - $100,000 - $5,000 + $1,000 - $10,000 - $10,000 = $76,000

This means that Company XYZ made $76,000 of profit last year. It was “in the black.”

Why It Matters

Philosophically speaking, being in the black is what motivates industry, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It is the very thing that enables people to feed themselves, clothe their families, create jobs, and set money aside for the future. It is not a vice, but rather an incentive to dream, take risks, and try harder. As Adam Smith, the founder of modern economics, put it, "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”

In the retail industry, companies often don’t become profitable until the fourth quarter, when Christmas shopping begins. This is the source of the term “Black Friday.”

Source: Investing Answers

BLACK Defined for English Language Learners

black

adjective

Definition of black for English Language Learners

: having the very dark color of coal or the night sky
: very dark because there is no light
: of or relating to a race of people who have dark skin and who come originally from Africa

black

noun

Definition of black for English Language Learners

: the dark color of coal or the night sky
: black clothing
: a person belonging to a race of people who have dark skin : a black person

black

verb

Definition of black for English Language Learners

: to make (something) black
: to refuse to work for or with (a business, employer, etc.) or to buy (goods, services, etc.)

BLACK Defined for Kids

black

adjective \ ˈblak \

Definition of black for Students

blacker; blackest

1 :of the color of coal :colored black

2 :very dark

a black night

3 often capitalized :of or relating to any peoples having dark skin and especially any of the original peoples of Africa south of the Sahara

4 :of or relating to Americans having ancestors from Africa south of the Sahara

5 :wicked 1

a black deed

6 :very sad or gloomy

in a black mood

7 :unfriendly 1

a black look

—

blackish

adjective

—

blackness

noun

black

noun

Definition of black for Students

1 :the color of coal :the opposite of white

2 :black clothing

He is dressed in black.

3 :a person belonging to a race of people having dark skin

4 :an American having black African ancestors :african-american

5 :total or near total darkness

the black of night

6 :the condition of making a profit

The company is in the black.

black

verb

Definition of black for Students

blacked; blacking

:blacken 1

— black out

:to lose consciousness or the ability to see for a short time

Learn More about black

See words that rhyme with black Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for black Spanish Central: Translation of black Nglish: Translation of black for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of black for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about black

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black

Definition of black

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Synonyms

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Other Color Terms

black

Definition of black

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Black

Definition of Black

Black

Definition of Black

Black

Definition of Black

British Definition of BLACK

black

British Definition of black

black

British Definition of black

Financial Definition of BLACK

What It Is

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BLACK Defined for English Language Learners

black

Definition of black for English Language Learners

black

Definition of black for English Language Learners

black

Definition of black for English Language Learners

BLACK Defined for Kids

black

Definition of black for Students

blackish

blackness

black

Definition of black for Students

black

Definition of black for Students

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