black eye

noun

1

: a discoloration of the skin around the eye from bruising

2

a

: defeat, setback

b

: a bad reputation

Examples of black eye in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pinniped pup looked around quizzically with large, black eyes before lumbering into the surf with abandon — as only the young can. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Still, prediction markets have suffered black eyes this year. — Marc Levy, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Myers is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds with black hair and black eyes. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

The narrator sees on their face the remnants of two black eyes, a souvenir from police officers who attacked them at a protest in Berlin. — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for black eye

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

black eye

noun

: a dark discoloration of the skin around the eye as the result of a bruise

Medical Definition

black eye

noun

: a discoloration of the skin around the eye from bruising