black-and-white
- displaying only black and white tones; without color, as a picture or chart: a black-and-white photograph.
- partly black and partly white; made up of separate areas or design elements of black and white: black-and-white shoes.
- 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.
Origin of black-and-white
black and white
Examples from the Web for black-and-white
Contemporary Examples
This whole thing about a black-and-white culture of knee-jerk reactions is reinforced by television.
Having sufficiently wet ourselves, we viewers are left with a chilling, black-and-white image of blood circling the shower drain.
They have even put a black-and-white picture of Kate Middleton looking stressed and worried on the front cover.
He dropped a few hints about the “small,” “idiosyncratic” black-and-white movie that he will shoot after he finishes Crimson Peak.
The cross slowly (and in black-and-white) falls to the ground as we are told that religious freedom is under attack in America.
Historical Examples
There was black-and-white paint on his body; the stripes of the Koshare do not come off easily.
The Trail BookMary Austin
He's head and shoulders above the ruck of black-and-white artists.
The Mystery of Murray DavenportRobert Neilson Stephens
One of the ladies, dressed in black-and-white check, was immensely stout.
A Spirit in PrisonRobert Hichens
She had taken over some of his black-and-white work herself.
Audrey CravenMay Sinclair
The black-and-white hall was empty and everything was perfectly still.
The Arrow of GoldJoseph Conrad
black-and-white
- a photograph, picture, sketch, etc, in black, white, and shades of grey rather than in colour
- (as modifier)black-and-white film
- the neutral tones of black, white, and intermediate shades of greyCompare colour (def. 2)
- in black and white
- in print or writing
- in extremeshe always saw things in black and white
Idioms and Phrases with black-and-white
black and white
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]