# blackboard

/ˈbɫækˌbɔɹd/ (US) · /blˈækbɔːd/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blackboard
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a large, dark board used in classrooms for writing on with chalk. Teachers use it to show lessons to the whole class.

For teachers: a large, smooth, dark surface, typically made of slate or wood, used in educational settings for writing or drawing with chalk.

## Examples

- The teacher wrote the homework on the blackboard.
- After the lecture, the student stayed behind to copy the complex diagrams from the blackboard into her notebook.
- While many modern classrooms have transitioned to digital displays, the traditional blackboard remains a symbol of academic instruction and manual calculation in many parts of the world.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a compound noun; increasingly replaced by 'whiteboard' or 'smartboard' in modern contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.