film noir (C1)

noun

Pronunciation: /fɪlm nwɑːr/

Definition

A style of motion picture characterized by cynical attitudes, dark lighting, and complex moral ambiguity, often featuring a private investigator or a doomed protagonist.

Examples

• The director used high-contrast lighting to capture the classic essence of film noir.

• Many critics consider the 1944 movie Double Indemnity to be the definitive example of film noir.

• The protagonist’s descent into corruption is a recurring theme found throughout the history of film noir.

Synonyms of film noir

Words with a similar meaning to film noir:

• crime drama
• hardboiled

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