black-and-white
adjective
\ ˌbla-kən-ˈhwīt
, -ˈwīt\
, -ˈwīt\
Definition of black-and-white
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
5a
: 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
noun (1)Definition of black-and-white (Entry 2 of 3)
black and white
noun (2)Definition of black and white (Entry 3 of 3)
Examples of black-and-white in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
On the one hand, genre stories tend to be very black and white. — Yvonne Villarrealstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "‘Carnival Row’ is not the next ‘Game of Thrones.’ Its showrunner wouldn’t have it any other way," 23 Aug. 2019 The results — based on a mathematical equation — were black and white, pass or fail. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "It took decades, but football helmet testing is becoming more sophisticated," 5 July 2019 Offering sweeping views of the city below, this roomy space has all the texture of the interior, but uses black and white to make sure that the attention stays squarely on the dramatic scene. — Nikhita Mahtani, House Beautiful, "You'd Never Guess This Home Was Designed in Just One Month," 5 June 2019 What was amazing was that [Lee] was very clear, black and white, about what McQueen was. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "“I Really Feel Quite Lucky”—Sarah Burton Reflects on Her Magical Career at Alexander McQueen," 30 May 2019 With both lead women, nothing is ever black and white. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jodie Comer on Her Favorite Killing Eve Episode and Meeting Villanelle's Match," 15 Apr. 2019 And speaking of pastel blue, there's no rule that says the cow print itself has to be black and white. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Kendall Jenner's New Manicure Makes Cow-Print Nails an Official Trend," 24 Mar. 2019 In our complex and patriarchal society, of course, things are rarely that black and white. — Andrea Bartz, Marie Claire, "Sometimes I Exploit My Sexuality and I'm Not Sorry," 25 Feb. 2019 So likely their characteristic black and white patches are a very effective form of camouflage. — Beth Py-lieberman, Smithsonian, "14 Fun Facts About Giant Pandas," 10 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'black-and-white.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for black-and-white
black-and-white
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of black-and-white
: partly black and partly white in color
: having, showing, or producing pictures that do not have colors except for black, white, and shades of gray
: involving a simple choice between things that are clearly opposite and especially between good and bad or right and wrong
See the full definition for black-and-white in the English Language Learners Dictionary