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

The president had just been informed during a tour of Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate that the famous musician had multiple black belts in karate. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026

Black Belt magazine ultimately credited Norris in its hall of fame with holding a 10th degree black belt, the highest possible honor. —Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026

One of America’s most famous martial artists, and certainly the most frequently memed, Norris leveraged his black belt skills to build a successful television and film career. —Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026

Her best friend was a black belt. —Jada Yuan, Vulture, 14 Mar. 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