English Reference
Adjective

blackish

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate UK /blˈækɪʃ/ black·ish

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.


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.


From Middle English blackysshe, blakkyssh, equivalent to black + -ish.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English blackysshe
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated