black-and-white

1 of 3

adjective

ˌbla-kən-ˈ(h)wīt 

1

: partly black and partly white in color

2

: being in writing or print

3

: executed in dark pigment on a light background or in light pigment on a dark ground

a black-and-white drawing

4

: monochrome sense 2

black-and-white film

black-and-white television

5

a

: sharply divided into good and evil

b

: evaluating or viewing things as either all good or all bad

black-and-white morality

c

: sharply defined : clear-cut

the truth is not always black-and-white

black-and-white

2 of 3

noun (1)

: squad car

black and white

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: writing, print

2

: a drawing or print done in black and white or in monochrome

3

: monochrome reproduction of visual images (as by photography or television)

Examples of black-and-white in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But by the time the bicentennial rolled around, my life had played out against the backdrop of civil unrest and the Vietnam War, both spilling from our black-and-white television almost nightly. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

The black-and-white snapshots of sailors hoisting lines on deck look similar to the modern scenes still playing out today. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Noun

Since discovering the beauty of Florida more than four decades ago, Clyde Butcher has become known for his giant black-and-white photographs showing the dramatic majesty of the state’s landscape — especially the Everglades. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026

While posing for a photo opp, Stewart turned heads in a black-and-white tweed skirt suit by Chanel. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 27 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

from a common color scheme for such cars

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1958, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for black-and-white

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite