# blanc

/ˈbɫæŋk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blanc
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. cooking sauce

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a white sauce made from fat, broth, and vegetables, often served with meat.

For teachers: a white sauce composed of fat, broth, and vegetables, typically used as a base for braised meat dishes.

- The chef prepared a delicate blanc to serve with the braised veal.
- The recipe calls for a traditional blanc, requiring the chef to simmer the vegetables in white stock without allowing them to brown.

Usage: Often used in French-style professional cooking contexts.

### 2. offensive slur

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude and offensive word for a white person.

For teachers: a derogatory and offensive term for a person of European or Caucasian descent.

- The speaker used a hateful slur, calling the man a blanc during the argument.
- Sociolinguists noted that the term blanc was employed as a racial slur within that specific community to express deep-seated resentment.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly offensive and should be avoided; it is included here for recognition in specific literary or sociological contexts only.

### 3. cosmetic

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of white makeup used to make the skin look pale.

For teachers: a white cosmetic preparation used to whiten the complexion.

- The actor applied a thick layer of blanc to achieve a ghostly look.
- Historically, performers used various forms of blanc to ensure their facial expressions remained visible to the back of the theatre.

## Examples

- He stared at the blanc of his eyes.
- The chef separated the blanc from the yolk before whisking the mixture.
- In the painting, the stark blanc of the subject's eyes contrasts sharply with the dark, shadowed background.

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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.