: a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music
also
: a film of this type
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
The journalist, who once worked for CNN, took part in a discussion about film noir.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Aug. 2023
There are some confusing bits in the two mysteries, but since the Chee plot — which also brings back John Henry Diehl as Rosemary’s wealthy and powerful husband, B.J. — is going for a film noir vibe, that’s par for the course.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2023
The investigators’ conclusion, eight months later, could have been the plot of a film noir.
—Elisabeth Malkin, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2023
In sequences involving an author who was turning his novel into a screenplay, everything was in color, while those involving a private eye movie character were in black and white, befitting the show’s homage to film noir.
—Richard Sandomir, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2023
Elisa Benzoni’s costumes have the look of 1950s film noir.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2023
At around the same time, the emergence of film noir — crime and decay in the American city its frequent subject — helped shape the figure of the lonely man alone in a crowd who might be a protagonist, might be an antagonist, might be both.
—Ted Anthony, Anchorage Daily News, 16 May 2023
Alphaville Jean-Luc Godard’s unique sci-fi film noir Alphaville stars the inimitable Eddie Constantine as secret agent Lemmy Caution, sent to Alphaville to eliminate Professor von Braun and take down the Alpha 60 computer that rules the city with an iron fist.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 16 May 2023
Nintendo universe [with] a live-action, film noir crime drama vibe.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2023
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Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Aug. 2023
There are some confusing bits in the two mysteries, but since the Chee plot — which also brings back John Henry Diehl as Rosemary’s wealthy and powerful husband, B.J. — is going for a film noir vibe, that’s par for the course.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2023
The investigators’ conclusion, eight months later, could have been the plot of a film noir.
—Elisabeth Malkin, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2023
In sequences involving an author who was turning his novel into a screenplay, everything was in color, while those involving a private eye movie character were in black and white, befitting the show’s homage to film noir.
—Richard Sandomir, BostonGlobe.com, 30 May 2023
Elisa Benzoni’s costumes have the look of 1950s film noir.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2023
At around the same time, the emergence of film noir — crime and decay in the American city its frequent subject — helped shape the figure of the lonely man alone in a crowd who might be a protagonist, might be an antagonist, might be both.
—Ted Anthony, Anchorage Daily News, 16 May 2023
Alphaville Jean-Luc Godard’s unique sci-fi film noir Alphaville stars the inimitable Eddie Constantine as secret agent Lemmy Caution, sent to Alphaville to eliminate Professor von Braun and take down the Alpha 60 computer that rules the city with an iron fist.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 16 May 2023
Nintendo universe [with] a live-action, film noir crime drama vibe.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'film noir.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French, literally, black film
First Known Use
1930, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near film noir
Cite this Entry
“Film noir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/film%20noir. Accessed 1 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on film noir
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about film noir
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