film noir

American  

[nwahr] / nwɑr /

noun

1. 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

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

---

Etymology

Origin of film noir

1955–60; < French: literally, black film

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

film noir

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

A grey flannel coat was inspired by film noir, featuring a stripe detail that took inspiration from Venetian blinds.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026

As his deceit becomes apparent, the music shifts from crisp hip-hop beats to a hard-boiled film noir crescendo.

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 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

The contemporary film noir story, which just wrapped production, stars Garcia as a private eye who operates like a 1940s Raymond Chandleresque detective in present day Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025