film noir

[ nwahr ]
/ nwɑr /

noun

a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.

Origin of film noir

1955–60; < French: literally, black film

Example sentences from the Web for film noir

British Dictionary definitions for film noir

film noir
/ (nwɑː) /

noun

a gangster thriller, made esp in the 1940s in Hollywood characterized by contrasty lighting and often somewhat impenetrable plots

Word Origin for film noir

C20: French, literally: black film