As an SEO writer assistant, I will use quick answers to questions in the opening paragraphs to provide context. I will also use HTML H2 tags as subheadings and create tables when appropriate to visualize data for the reader.
Many common English words contain the word “black” as part of their full form. This includes words that relate to color, race, objects, names, and more. In this article, we will explore some of the most common words that contain “black” and examples of how they are used in sentences.
Color Words with Black
Some of the most obvious words that contain “black” relate to colors. Here are a few examples:
- Blackmail – To force or coerce by threats, especially to extort money by threatening to reveal embarrassing or damaging information.
- Blackhead – A small plug of sebum and dead skin cells in the opening of a hair follicle on the face or occasionally neck, often causing a black dot on the skin.
- Blackout – A temporary loss of consciousness. This can have several causes including head injury, drugs, or lack of oxygen.
These color words containing “black” are very common in English and describe shades of black or dark colors.
Race Words with Black
Due to the history of race relations and segregation in countries like the United States, several words include “black” in reference to people of African descent:
- Blackface – Dark makeup worn by a non-black performer in order to represent a black person.
- Black Power – A movement among African Americans promoting pride in being black as well as self-sufficiency and social consciousness.
- Black Lives Matter – An international social movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against black people.
As cultures grapple with racism, words related to race are constantly evolving. Many words that were once commonly used are now considered offensive.
Names and Surnames with Black
There are also many proper names and surnames that include “black”:
- Blackbeard – The nickname of Edward Teach, a notorious English pirate in the early 18th century.
- Black Friday – The Friday after Thanksgiving in the US, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season marked by major retail sales.
- Black Sea – A sea between southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, linked to the Atlantic Ocean through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.
These names show how “black” can be associated with both people and places. Black Friday is an especially prominent example in American culture.
Objects with Black
Several common object names also make use of “black”:
- Blackboard – A reusable writing surface, commonly dark or black in color, used for learning in classrooms.
- Black box – A recording device placed in aircraft to track flight data.
- Blackhole – A region of spacetime where gravity prevents anything, including light, from escaping.
These objects are referred to as “black” due to their appearance or function. The meaning is often metaphorical rather than literal.
Verbs Containing Black
Some verbs related to darkening or obscuring also feature “black”:
- Blackball – Ostracize someone socially or in an organization by voting against allowing them to join.
- Blacken – Make or become black, dark, or dirty.
- Blacklist – Put (a person or organization) on an official or unofficial list of disapproved people.
These verbs emphasize how “black” can have negative connotations of exclusion, dirtiness, or evil.
Adjectives with Black
There are many descriptive words and phrases that include “black” as well:
- Blackish – Somewhat black in color.
- Black-and-white – Having sharply defined areas of black and white only; specifically, lacking intermediate shades of grey.
- Black-hearted – Evil, malicious.
These adjectives demonstrate how “black” is incorporated in creative ways to form new descriptive language.
Idioms and Phrases with Black
There are also several idiomatic phrases that make use of “black”:
- Black sheep – Used to describe an outsider or one who is different from the rest.
- Black market – The illegal trading of goods or currencies.
- Black tie – A dress code indicating formal wear with men dressed in black bow-tie and dinner jacket.
These idioms have cultural significance beyond just the use of the word “black” itself.
Other Usages
Beyond all the examples given above, “black” shows up in many other words and names including:
- Blackjack – A popular casino card game.
- Blackberry – A handheld mobile device for email and internet access.
- Blackout – Loss of electrical power to an area.
There are likely hundreds more examples not covered here of common words containing the root word “black.” It is a versatile word that can convey many different meanings.
Conclusion
In summary, many words in the English language feature the term “black” as part of their full form. This includes color words, terms related to race, names of people and places, objects, verbs, adjectives, idioms, and more. The versatility of “black” allows it to convey a wide range of literal and metaphorical meanings.
So next time you come across a word like “blackbird” or “blacktop,” remember that it is just one of the many words that incorporate “black” in the diverse English lexicon.
