black-and-white
1 of 3adjective
ˌbla-kən-ˈ(h)wīt 
1
: partly black and partly white in color
2
: being in writing or print
3
: executed in dark pigment on a light background or in light pigment on a dark ground
a black-and-white drawing
4
: monochrome sense 2
black-and-white film
black-and-white television
5
a
: sharply divided into good and evil
b
: evaluating or viewing things as either all good or all bad
black-and-white morality
c
: sharply defined : clear-cut
the truth is not always black-and-white
black-and-white
2 of 3noun (1)
: squad car
black and white
3 of 3noun (2)
1
: writing, print
2
: a drawing or print done in black and white or in monochrome
3
: monochrome reproduction of visual images (as by photography or television)
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
from a common color scheme for such cars
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (1)
1958, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1
black-and-white
adjective
as in explicit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- explicit
- luminous
- plain
- unambiguous
- unmistakable
- distinct
- straightforward
- unequivocal
- transparent
- trenchant
- broad
- patent
- bald
- well-defined
- obvious
- clear-cut
- pellucid
- bright-line
- lucid
- unambivalent
- evident
- perspicuous
- apparent
- crystal clear
- understandable
- clear
- comprehensible
- intelligible
- barefaced
- decided
- palpable
- open-and-shut
- manifest
- simple
- digestible
- uncomplicated
- graspable
- luculent
- bald-faced
- knowable
- nonambiguous
- ringing
- clean-cut
- recognizable
- comprehendible
- overt
- self-explanatory
- tidy
- tangible
- fathomable
- cognoscible
- cognizable
- discernible
- undisguised
- readable
- visible
- perceptible
- sensible
- legible
- self-evident
- appreciable
- noticeable
- observable
- decipherable
- clean
- discernable
- fair
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gray
- grey
- incomprehensible
- unintelligible
- indecipherable
- subtle
- unknowable
- unfathomable
- vague
- imperceptible
- indeterminate
- hazy
- gauzy
- sketchy
- murky
- misty
- cloudy
- nebulous
- impalpable
- indefinite
- noncommittal
- imprecise
- slippery
- dark
- ambiguous
- insensible
- indiscernible
- inappreciable
- illegible
- mysterious
- obscure
- indistinct
- cryptic
- unreadable
- enigmatic
- equivocal
- unclear
- clouded
- undecipherable
- enigmatical
- unclarified
- unapparent
- nonobvious
- obfuscated