What does "ebony" mean?
A hard, dense, deep black wood from various subtropical and tropical trees, especially of the genus Diospyros.
Ebony
adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·3 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A hard, dense, deep black wood from various subtropical and tropical trees, especially of the genus Diospyros.
- Grammar: ebony is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: jet black, acacia, ailanthus, alder.
- Useful contrasts: lattes, light, pale.
- Usage evidence: His locks were as black as ebony and fell upon his neck which the sun had tanned; but one might have imagined that it was the shadow of his hair that thus darkened the colour of his skin.
How to use "ebony"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ebony" 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 "ebony" 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 "ebony" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ebony" 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 "ebony" is acting as adj, 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 "jet black" 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 "ebony", 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 A hard, dense, deep black wood from various subtropical and tropical trees, especially of the genus Diospyros. uncountable, usually
- 2 a very dark black wordnet
- 3 A tree that yields such wood. countable, usually
"“You live up the road past the ebony tree, right?” he asked, looking past me."
- 4 tropical tree of southern Asia having hard dark-colored heartwood used in cabinetwork wordnet
- 5 A deep, dark black colour. countable, uncountable, usually
"Near-synonyms: onyx, raven"
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 hard dark-colored heartwood of the ebony tree; used in cabinetwork and for piano keys wordnet
- 7 Dark skin colour. uncountable, usually
"At dawn the hunters were off. There were fifty sleek, black warriors, and in their midst, lithe and active as a young forest god, strode Tarzan of the Apes, his brown skin contrasting oddly with the ebony of his companions. Except for color he was one of them."
- 8 A black key on a piano or other keyboard instrument (as opposed to ivory). countable, usually
"Ebony and ivory / Live together in perfect harmony / Side by side on my piano keyboard / Oh lord, why don't we?"
Adjective
- 1 Made of ebony wood.
- 2 A deep, dark black colour.
"Near-synonyms: onyx, raven"
- 3 Dark-skinned; black; especially in reference to African-Americans.
"He called the ebony mistress of the establishment to him, and speaking to her kindly and winningly, as any dutiful husband should, told her to make the change, which she did."
Adjective
- 1 of a very dark black wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name from English.
- 2 A stereotypical African-American woman. derogatory
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"His locks were as black as ebony and fell upon his neck which the sun had tanned; but one might have imagined that it was the shadow of his hair that thus darkened the colour of his skin."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ebony"?
Common synonyms include: jet black, acacia, ailanthus, alder, alligator pear, allspice.
How do you use "ebony" in a sentence?
His locks were as black as ebony and fell upon his neck which the sun had tanned; but one might have imagined that it was the shadow of his hair that thus darkened the colour of his skin.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From earlier heben, hebeny, from Middle English ebenif, hebenyf (influenced by Late Latin hebeninus), from Ecclesiastical Latin ebenius (“of ebony”), from Latin hebenus (“ebon tree”), from Ancient Greek ἔβενος (ébenos), from Egyptian hbnj, U13:n-Z4:M3
Etymology 2
From ebony. First used by African Americans in the 1970s.