darkness
Americannoun
-
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
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.
But the questions the film confronts the viewer with, and the depths of American darkness it plummets to, are brash and critical.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
The Crab Pulsar stands apart with sharply defined stripes separated by complete darkness.
From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026
Seconds later, a man in his late 20s climbed out of the darkness, carrying with him a pink polka dot roller suitcase.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
It will also coincide with the spring equilux where day and night are the same length, marking the end of more darkness than light.
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
Jonah started to back out of the darkness.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
