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• black and white
  black and white

  noun

  black.
• black-and-white
  black-and-white

  adjective

  displaying only black and white tones; without color, as a picture or chart.

black and white

¹ American  

noun

1. black.

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black-and-white ² American  

[blak-uhn-hwahyt, -wahyt] / ˈblæk ənˈʰwaɪt, -ˈwaɪt /

adjective

1. displaying only black and white tones; without color, as a picture or chart.

   a black-and-white photograph.

2. partly black and partly white; made up of separate areas or design elements of black and white.

   black-and-white shoes.

3. of, relating to, or constituting a two-valued system, as of logic or morality; absolute.

   To those who think in black-and-white terms, a person must be either entirely good or entirely bad.

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black-and-white British  

noun

1. 1. a photograph, picture, sketch, etc, in black, white, and shades of grey rather than in colour

   2. ( as modifier )

      black-and-white film

2. the neutral tones of black, white, and intermediate shades of grey Compare colour

3. 1. in print or writing

   2. in extremes

      he always saw things in black and white

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black and white Idioms  

1. A monochromatic picture, drawing, television image, computer monitor, or film, as opposed to one using many colors, as in Photos in black and white fade less than those taken with color film . [Late 1800s]

2. Also, black or white . Involving a very clear distinction, without any gradations. For example, He tended to view everything as a black and white issue—it was either right or wrong—whereas his partner always found gray areas . This usage is based on the association of black with evil and white with virtue, which dates back at least 2,000 years. [Early 1800s] Also see gray area .

3. in black and white . Written down or in print, and therefore official. For example, The terms of our agreement were spelled out in black and white, so there should be no question about it . This term alludes to black ink or print on white paper. Shakespeare used it in Much Ado about Nothing (5:1). [Late 1500s]

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Etymology

Origin of black-and-white

First recorded in 1590–1600

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

black and white black-and-white

It will be far easier to make a decision jointly when you both have the figures in black and white, with the help of your financial adviser.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

The story is deeper, more complicated, and far from clean-cut black and white.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

"Mainly because the messaging around them is so black and white," she says.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Because lead absorbs far more X rays, letters appeared as bright marks against the darker carbonized material, similar to brighter regions on an underexposed black and white negative.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

It was so colourful, so beautiful, it made the rest of the world look as if it was in grainy black and white.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Lewin captured this dreamy, black-and-white photo of a young bull elephant spraying zebras at a waterhole.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Lucas Lu walked by the protest, guiding two black-and-white humanoid robots.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

“Keeping Up With the Kardashians” fans will immediately recognize the six-bedroom property’s dramatic black-and-white entryway, which features two grand staircases that lead up to the second floor.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

Silvana Armani, the Italian designer's niece, offered black-and-white dresses and ensembles, with necklines sometimes plunging all the way to the navel.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

Painted on the wing is the black-and-white cross of the Luftwaffe.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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Related Words

• book
• copy
• edition
• engraving
• lettering
• lithograph
• magazine
• newspaper
• photograph
• stamp
• type
• writing

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