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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of film noir

1955–60; < French: literally, black film

Example Sentences

Given a slight tweak, “The Stranger” could be a film noir about a man who simply drifts along the currents of a cruel universe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 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

Smoking in a raffish suit like a film noir baddie with a shock of red hair ready to torch the world, Noble’s Richard employs a dusky, ironic voice to flaying effect.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

But even that doesn’t seem fitting for works that nod to centuries-old chant music and film noir.

From New York Times • Nov. 15, 2024

Here it’s considered archaic, a throwback to film noir that taught us to associate it with some of cinema’s immortal screen goddesses – Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2024