Definition of BLACKNESS

blackness

Plural: blacknesses

Noun

  • the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
  • total absence of light
  • The state or quality of being black in colour.
  • Any space that such colour pervades.
  • Darkness, gloominess; depression.
  • The quality of being evil or dismal.
  • The state of being of African descent.
  • The experiences and culture of African-American people.

Examples

  • Out of the blackness came some flickers of light.
  • The blackness of outer space comes from the lack of anything to reflect light rather than the absence of light.

Origin / Etymology

Inherited from Middle English blaknesse, equivalent to black + -ness. Sense 5 most likely both originated from the masque The Masque of Blackness by Ben Jonson and later changed to its current positive sense.

Synonyms

black, inkiness, lightlessness, pitch blackness, total darkness

Scrabble Score: 17

blackness: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
blackness: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
blackness: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 21

blackness: valid Words With Friends Word