black and white

¹

noun

1. black.

black-and-white

²

[blak-uhn-hwahyt, -wahyt]

adjective

1. displaying only black and white tones; without color, as a picture or chart.

   a black-and-white photograph.

2. partly black and partly white; made up of separate areas or design elements of black and white.

   black-and-white shoes.

3. 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. 1. a photograph, picture, sketch, etc, in black, white, and shades of grey rather than in colour

   2. ( as modifier )

      black-and-white film

2. the neutral tones of black, white, and intermediate shades of grey Compare colour

3. 1. in print or writing

   2. in extremes

      he always saw things in black and white

Word History and Origins

Origin of black-and-white¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Idioms and Phrases

A monochromatic picture, drawing, television image, computer monitor, or film, as opposed to one using many colors, as in Photos in black and white fade less than those taken with color film . [Late 1800s]

Also, black or white . Involving a very clear distinction, without any gradations. For example, He tended to view everything as a black and white issue—it was either right or wrong—whereas his partner always found gray areas . This usage is based on the association of black with evil and white with virtue, which dates back at least 2,000 years. [Early 1800s] Also see gray area .

in black and white . Written down or in print, and therefore official. For example, The terms of our agreement were spelled out in black and white, so there should be no question about it . This term alludes to black ink or print on white paper. Shakespeare used it in Much Ado about Nothing (5:1). [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

But Pulte has framed the issue in black-and-white terms: “Your second home is not your primary home,” he warned in one recent post on X.

From Salon

Footage broadcast by KCBS-LA showed the Sheriff’s Department black-and-white cruiser pinned against an electric tower.

From Los Angeles Times

I walked into the black-and-white marble bathroom and noticed, next to the tub, two silver bowls and a cushy, hot pink dog bed.

From Los Angeles Times

Yamaguchi shows me a black-and-white photo of her as a child, clutching the dolls on her lap in the sunlight.

From Los Angeles Times

The truth is that there’s no black-and-white answer to this dilemma.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• book 
• copy 
• edition 
• engraving 
• lettering 
• lithograph 
• magazine 
• newspaper 
• photograph 
• stamp 
• type 
• writing