film noir

American

[nwahr] / nwɑr /

noun

a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.

film noir British

/ nwɑː /

noun

a gangster thriller, made esp in the 1940s in Hollywood characterized by contrasty lighting and often somewhat impenetrable plots

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of film noir

1955–60; < French: literally, black film

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.

See Examples For:

film noir

The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

She tells Newsbeat that it gives a more "fatalism" vibe, adding the series "is being so open about being such an homage to film noir".

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

The drama is thought to be an homage to the film noir style - a hallmark in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s, with its shadowy looks and gritty plots.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

Having named the genre, the French can claim a special connection to that loose collection of cinematic tropes we call film noir.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2026

Dark film noir compositions alternate with bright sunny street scenes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2025

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