# noire

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/noire
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a style of dark, serious, and often violent movies from the 1940s and 1950s. These films usually have a gloomy mood and a cynical view of the world.

For teachers: a genre of American cinema from the 1940s and 1950s characterized by stark lighting, cynical themes, and a sense of fatalism. Often used in the plural to refer to the movement as a whole.

## Examples

- The director is a huge fan of classic film noir.
- While modern detective stories often have happy endings, the classic noir films of the 1940s usually end in tragedy or betrayal.
- The film's use of deep shadows and a morally ambiguous protagonist clearly places it within the tradition of film noir, even though it was released in the digital age.

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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.