darkness

American

[dahrk-nis] / ˈdɑrk nɪs /

noun

the state or quality of being dark.

The room was in total darkness.
absence or deficiency of light.

the darkness of night.
wickedness or evil.

Satan, the prince of darkness.
obscurity; concealment.

The darkness of the metaphor destroyed its effectiveness.
lack of knowledge or enlightenment.

heathen darkness.
lack of sight; blindness.

Other Word Forms

predarkness noun

Etymology

Origin of darkness

First recorded before 1050; Middle English derknesse, Old English deorcnysse; equivalent to dark + -ness

Explanation

The complete (or partial) absence of light is darkness. If you've ever lost power in your house during a nighttime storm, you know what it's like to be suddenly engulfed in darkness. There are degrees of darkness, from the complete darkness of the woods on a moonless night to the darkness of a room lit by candlelight. Darkness is open to interpretation, since it's defined as a lack of light. There's also a figurative darkness, which can represent wickedness, sadness, ignorance, or simply mystery: "The details of their adventures would remain in darkness, unless one of them wrote a book someday."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing darkness

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ness

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Moon appeared to them as a black orb surrounded by a halo of light, all set against the backdrop of the vast darkness of space.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

“The Drama” understands that violence thrives in darkness and that the fear of being judged is what keeps those experiencing difficult, extreme emotions from talking about them.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

“One Shining Moment” is another man’s darkness, and so it was that after Michigan’s 69-63 title victory over UConn Monday night, Mara unwittingly milked his co-starring role in the tournament’s annual music video compilation.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

But not every energy target will meet that standard, and the military benefit doesn’t justify plunging 90 million people into darkness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

I glanced out the window to find only darkness in the trees.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023