Word
blackish
Phoneticsblack·ish
UK/blˈækɪʃ/
Definition
adj. having a color that is dark but not exactly black. It is a mix of dark colors like dark brown or gray.
adj. having a color that is dark but not pure black; resembling black in tone or shade. Often used to describe objects that appear dark from a distance or in poor lighting.
Examples
“The sky turned blackish as the storm approached.”
“The old leather sofa had a blackish stain on the corner that was difficult to clean.”
“The historian noted that the ancient manuscript had a blackish appearance due to centuries of exposure to damp conditions and acidic paper.”
Examples
simple
“The sky turned blackish as the storm approached.”
contextual
“The old leather sofa had a blackish stain on the corner that was difficult to clean.”
complex
“The historian noted that the ancient manuscript had a blackish appearance due to centuries of exposure to damp conditions and acidic paper.”
Etymology
From Middle English blackysshe, blakkyssh, equivalent to black + -ish.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/blackish