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black and white

noun

black ( def 31 ).

black-and-white

[ blak-uhn-hwahyt, -wahyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

displaying only black and white tones; without color, as a picture or chart:
a black-and-white photograph.
partly black and partly white; made up of separate areas or design elements of black and white:
black-and-white shoes.
of, relating to, or constituting a two-valued system, as of logic or morality; absolute:
To those who think in black-and-white terms, a person must be either entirely good or entirely bad.

black-and-white

noun

1. a photograph, picture, sketch, etc, in black, white, and shades of grey rather than in colour
2. ( as modifier )
  black-and-white film
the neutral tones of black, white, and intermediate shades of grey Compare colour
in black and white
1. in print or writing
2. in extremes
  he always saw things in black and white

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Word History and Origins

Origin of black and white¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Over the years, I've had life experiences that have shown me that the world isn't black and white, and that it's not simple to solve all its problems.

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“Writing still seems the deepest way of inhabiting another soul and the very best way, therefore, of rescuing us from black and white,” he added.

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But his own life experience turned what looked like black and white into his version of gray.

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"I tried to report him over and over again and they completely ignored me and I now know why. To actually see it in black and white is just horrendous."

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When I checked the history of the company name on Facebook, it was there in black and white.

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Related Words

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