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

usually 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

Add your grounding accessories, like black kitten heels, a black belt, and black sunglasses. — Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Glamour, 8 Nov. 2026

Each player wears a thin black belt which is cinched tightly around the waist with one flag attached to each hip. — Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Norton, who held a 5th dan black belt in Gōjū-ryū karate and a 6th dan black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, appeared in more than 80 films and TV shows. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2026

The 17-year-old Willow Grove teenager is outgoing, loves to dance and is a junior black belt. — Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 28 Oct. 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
• snowmelt
• unfelt
• celt
• dealt
• dwelt
• felt
• knelt
• melt
• pelt
• smelt
• spelt

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