noir

1 of 2

noun

ˈnwär 

1

: crime fiction featuring hard-boiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings

an example of classic noir

2

: film noir

a comedy dressed in the trappings of an edgy noir

noirish

ˈnwär-ish 

adjective

noir

2 of 2

adjective

: having a bleak and darkly cynical quality of the kind associated with hard-boiled crime fiction and film noir

a noir thriller

In this boldly styled first novel, Komarnicki follows a 30-year-old homeless man on a noir odyssey of death and survival through the streets of New Orleans and Hong Kong.

—Sybil S. Steinberg

The plot of this violent fairy tale is as noir and nasty as the characters.

—Marilyn Stasio

Examples of noir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Set and costume designer Diego Méndez Casariego has opted for a minimalist noir look, of no particular time period. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026

Salazar-Thompson’s ingenious new version of Hammett’s noir masterpiece features five versatile performers transforming between roles to bring 1920s San Francisco’s underbelly to hilarious life. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Arjun Bewakoof is my response, a film with wide appeal, strong music, a compelling love story and a neo-noir suspense core. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026

The esteemed director worked with the actress back in 1984 on the neo-noir comedy After Hours. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for film noir

First Known Use

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1958, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing noir

• beurre noir
• film noir
• pinot noir

Rhymes for noir

• moire
• boudoir