noir

American

[nwar] / nwar /

adjective

French.

black; noting the black numbers in roulette.

noir British

/ nwɑː /

adjective

(of a film) showing characteristics of a film noir , in plot or style

"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

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.

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

Account names include terms such as "black", "noir", "dark" and "ebony".

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

But Ireland's 27-year-old captain does not view himself as Dupont's bete noir.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Alan Moore and Frank Miller’s comics, Tim Burton’s blockbusters and a return to television as an animated noir made the ‘66 “Batman” seem like more and more of an anomaly.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

“Ah, pinot noir is making a comeback. Don’t mind me.”

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

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