film noir

noun

plural film noirs -ˈnwär(z) How to pronounce film noir (audio) or films noir or films noirs -ˈnwär How to pronounce film noir (audio)
: a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music
also : a film of this type

Examples of film noir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Oddball comedies, private eye film noir superheroes, tense kidnapping thrillers and much, much more all make their way onto this weekend’s friendly neighborhood weekend streaming guide. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026 Tiernan said that the challenge really gave him an appreciation for the show’s actors and the distinctiveness of their faces when photographed with a film noir sensibility. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 May 2026 Yet, the show fails to nail the decadence of true Old Hollywood film noir. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 May 2026 The Blue Gardenia has all the elements to craft the perfect film noir. Air Mail, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for film noir

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, black film

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of film noir was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

“Film noir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/film%20noir. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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