What does "blackness" mean?
The state or quality of being black in colour.
Blackness
/ˈblæknəs/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The state or quality of being black in colour.
- Grammar: blackness is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absence of light, black, black identity, dark.
- Useful contrasts: alba, bela, blacklessness.
- Usage evidence: Frankie blamed his own blackness for his school problems. His real issue was that so did his teachers.
How to use "blackness"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "blackness" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "blackness" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "blackness" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "blackness" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "blackness" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absence of light" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "blackness", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The state or quality of being black in colour. uncountable, usually
"The blackness of outer space comes from the lack of anything to reflect light rather than the absence of light."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of blackness (“state of being of African descent; culture of African-Americans”). alt-of, uncountable
"It is Blackless, hence it shares that very quality, Blacklessness, with Whiteness; and it is Whiteless, hence it shares Whitelessness with Blackness."
- 3 the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white) wordnet
- 4 Any space that such colour pervades. uncountable, usually
"Out of the blackness came some flickers of light."
- 5 total absence of light wordnet
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 Darkness, gloominess; depression. figuratively, uncountable, usually
- 7 The quality of being evil or dismal. figuratively, uncountable, usually
"She had seen so much of the blacker side of human nature that blackness no longer startled her as it should do."
- 8 The state of being of African descent. uncountable, usually
"“Black Panther” is a stunning visual and cultural achievement that takes superhero cinema where it’s never gone before by not being afraid to embrace its blackness."
- 9 The experiences and culture of African-American people. uncountable, usually
Proper Noun
- 1 A suburb of Dundee, City of Dundee council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NO3830).
- 2 A small coastal village in Falkirk council area, Scotland; a nearby headland is named Black Ness (OS grid ref NT0580).
- 3 A hamlet in Westham parish, Wealden district, East Sussex, England (OS grid ref TQ6104).
- 4 A suburb of Crowborough, Wealden district, East Sussex (OS grid ref TQ5230).
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Frankie blamed his own blackness for his school problems. His real issue was that so did his teachers."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "blackness"?
Common synonyms include: absence of light, black, black identity, dark, darkness, dead of night.
How do you use "blackness" in a sentence?
Frankie blamed his own blackness for his school problems. His real issue was that so did his teachers.
How do you pronounce "blackness"?
Pronounced /ˈblæknəs/.
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.