black letter

American  

noun

Printing.

1. a heavy-faced type in a style like that of early European hand lettering and the earliest printed books.

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black letter British  

noun

1. printing another name for Gothic

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Other Word Forms

• black-letter adjective

Etymology

Origin of black letter

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

“It doesn’t say you have to go to court, you don’t have to do X, Y and Z; that’s what the black letter law says,” Sarega said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2025

"Not only is this rule not authorized by existing law and is actually contrary to black letter Georgia law, but it presents very serious security and chain of custody concerns."

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2024

It is black letter law that state courts hold ultimate authority to determine the meaning of their own state’s statutes and constitution.

From Slate • Oct. 26, 2020

The ecclesiastical notes — stained-glass border and black letter type — of that poster all felt like they were coming from the same place.

From Washington Post • Feb. 5, 2020

Stella ran her fingers gently over the round black letter keys, pressing the S for Stella part of the way down, watching the type bar rise up toward the roller.

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper