Black vs. Blacked — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 14, 2024
"Black" refers to a color, often symbolizing darkness or absence of light, while "blacked" typically describes an action where something is made black or obscured.
Difference Between Black and Blacked
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Black" is primarily used as a noun or adjective to describe the darkest color, resulting from the absence or complete absorption of light. It is often associated with elegance, formality, or mystery in various contexts. In contrast, "blacked" is the past tense of the verb "black," implying an action where something has been darkened, covered, or obscured, often used metaphorically to describe loss of consciousness or the deliberate hiding of information.
As an adjective, "black" can describe objects, feelings, or themes that are dark in color or tone, reflecting a wide range of meanings from sophistication (as in "black tie") to negativity (such as "black mood"). Whereas "blacked," as a verb form, suggests an active process of darkening or concealing, such as in "blacked-out windows" or "blacked out from fainting," indicating a temporary loss of consciousness or memory, often due to shock or intoxication.
In cultural and societal contexts, "black" can denote racial identity, particularly relating to people of African descent, and carries significant cultural, historical, and social connotations. On the other hand, "blacked" can be used in contexts like "blacked-out information" to refer to censored or redacted content in documents, highlighting concealment or omission of details.
The use of "black" in expressions and idioms, such as "black sheep" or "in the black," showcases its versatility in conveying concepts of outlier status or profitability, respectively. "Blacked," however, is more narrowly used, often in technical or specific scenarios like "blacked-out stage" in theater to indicate a deliberate darkening of the stage for dramatic effect.
Understanding the distinction between "black" as describing color, mood, or identity, and "blacked" as indicating an action of darkening or obscuring, is crucial in grasping the nuances of their usage in English.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Color or shade; absence of light
Made black or obscured
Usage
Adjective, noun
Verb (past tense)
Connotations
Elegance, formality, mystery, negativity
Concealment, loss of consciousness
Contexts
Fashion, emotions, identity
Censorship, intoxication, technical uses
Examples
Black dress, black night
Blacked-out windows, blacked out
Compare with Definitions
Black
Black is the darkest color, absorbing all light.
The artist chose black for the background to emphasize the subject.
Blacked
To cover or darken something.
The documents were blacked out to protect sensitive information.
Black
In finance, being "in the black" means profitable.
The company's ledger is back in the black this quarter.
Blacked
Information that has been concealed.
Classified sections were blacked out in the released report.
Black
Often associated with sophistication and formality.
The black-tie event required formal attire.
Blacked
To faint or temporarily lose consciousness.
He blacked out after standing up too quickly.
Black
Can symbolize bad luck or sadness.
He was in a black mood after hearing the news.
Blacked
Removing or obscuring text for security or privacy.
Names were blacked out in the legal documents for privacy.
Black
Refers to racial or cultural identity, particularly in people of African descent.
Black culture has a profound influence on music and art.
Blacked
In stage productions, to darken the stage.
The stage was blacked out before the next scene began.
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and gray.
Blacked
Being of the color black, producing or reflecting comparatively little light and having no predominant hue.
Black
Of the very darkest colour owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white
Her long black hair
Black smoke
Blacked
Having little or no light
A black, moonless night.
Black
Belonging to or denoting any human group having dark-coloured skin, especially of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry
Black adolescents of Jamaican descent
Blacked
Of or belonging to a racial group having brown to black skin, especially one of African origin
The black population of South Africa.
Black
Denoting a covert military procedure
Clearance for black operations came from the highest political level
Blacked
Of or belonging to an American ethnic group descended from African peoples having dark skin; African American.
Black
(of goods or work) not to be handled or undertaken by trade union members, especially so as to express support for an industrial dispute elsewhere
The union declared the ship black
Blacked
Very dark in color
Rich black soil.
Black, wavy hair.
Black
Black colour or pigment
A tray decorated in black and green
Blacked
Being a trail, as for skiing, marked with a sign having a black diamond, indicating a high level of difficulty.
Black
A member of a dark-skinned people, especially one of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry
They tend to identify strongly with other blacks
Blacked
Soiled, as from soot; dirty
Feet black from playing outdoors.
Black
The situation of not owing money to a bank or of making a profit in a business operation
It is hoped the club will be back in the black by the end of the season
An insurance company operating in the black will be able to pay for further growth
I managed to break even in the first six months—quite a short time for a small business to get into the black
Blacked
Evil; wicked
The pirates' black deeds.
Black
Blackcurrant cordial
A rum and black
Blacked
Cheerless and depressing; gloomy
Black thoughts.
Black
Make (something) black, especially with polish
The steps of the house were neatly blacked
Blacked
Being or characterized by morbid or grimly satiric humor
A black comedy.
Black
Refuse to handle (goods), undertake (work), or have dealings with (a person or business) as a way of taking industrial action
The union blacked the film because overtime was not being paid
Blacked
Marked by anger or sullenness
Gave me a black look.
Black
Being of the color black, producing or reflecting comparatively little light and having no predominant hue.
Blacked
Attended with disaster; calamitous
A black day.
The stock market crash on Black Friday.
Black
Having little or no light
A black, moonless night.
Blacked
Deserving of, indicating, or incurring censure or dishonor
“Man ... has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands” (Rachel Carson).
Black
Of or belonging to a racial group having brown to black skin, especially one of African origin
The black population of South Africa.
Blacked
Wearing clothing of the darkest visual hue
The black knight.
Black
Of or belonging to an American ethnic group descended from African peoples having dark skin; African American.
Blacked
Served without milk or cream
Black coffee.
Black
Very dark in color
Rich black soil.
Black, wavy hair.
Blacked
Appearing to emanate from a source other than the actual point of origin. Used chiefly of intelligence operations
Black propaganda.
Black radio transmissions.
Black
Being a trail, as for skiing, marked with a sign having a black diamond, indicating a high level of difficulty.
Blacked
Disclosed, for reasons of security, only to an extremely limited number of authorized persons; very highly classified
Black programs in the Defense Department.
The Pentagon's black budget.
Black
Soiled, as from soot; dirty
Feet black from playing outdoors.
Blacked
Chiefly British Boycotted as part of a labor union action.
Black
Evil; wicked
The pirates' black deeds.
Blacked
The achromatic color value of minimum lightness or maximum darkness; the color of objects that absorb nearly all light of all visible wavelengths; one extreme of the neutral gray series, the opposite being white. Although strictly a response to zero stimulation of the retina, the perception of black appears to depend on contrast with surrounding color stimuli.
Black
Cheerless and depressing; gloomy
Black thoughts.
Blacked
A pigment or dye having this color value.
Black
Being or characterized by morbid or grimly satiric humor
A black comedy.
Blacked
Complete or almost complete absence of light; darkness.
Black
Marked by anger or sullenness
Gave me a black look.
Blacked
Clothing of the darkest hue, especially such clothing worn for mourning.
Black
Attended with disaster; calamitous
A black day.
The stock market crash on Black Friday.
Blacked
A member of a racial group having brown to black skin, especially one of African origin.
Black
Deserving of, indicating, or incurring censure or dishonor
“Man ... has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands” (Rachel Carson).
Blacked
An American descended from peoples of African origin having brown to black skin; an African American.
Black
Wearing clothing of the darkest visual hue
The black knight.
Blacked
Something that is colored black.
Black
Served without milk or cream
Black coffee.
Blacked
The black-colored pieces, as in chess or checkers.
Black
Appearing to emanate from a source other than the actual point of origin. Used chiefly of intelligence operations
Black propaganda.
Black radio transmissions.
Blacked
The player using these pieces.
Black
Disclosed, for reasons of security, only to an extremely limited number of authorized persons; very highly classified
Black programs in the Defense Department.
The Pentagon's black budget.
Blacked
The condition of making or operating at a profit
Worked hard to get the business back into the black.
Black
Chiefly British Boycotted as part of a labor union action.
Blacked
To make black
Blacked their faces with charcoal.
Black
The achromatic color value of minimum lightness or maximum darkness; the color of objects that absorb nearly all light of all visible wavelengths; one extreme of the neutral gray series, the opposite being white. Although strictly a response to zero stimulation of the retina, the perception of black appears to depend on contrast with surrounding color stimuli.
Blacked
To apply blacking to
Blacked the stove.
Black
A pigment or dye having this color value.
Blacked
Chiefly British To boycott as part of a labor union action.
Black
Complete or almost complete absence of light; darkness.
Blacked
To become black.
Black
Clothing of the darkest hue, especially such clothing worn for mourning.
Blacked
Simple past tense and past participle of black
Black
A member of a racial group having brown to black skin, especially one of African origin.
Black
An American descended from peoples of African origin having brown to black skin; an African American.
Black
Something that is colored black.
Black
The black-colored pieces, as in chess or checkers.
Black
The player using these pieces.
Black
The condition of making or operating at a profit
Worked hard to get the business back into the black.
Black
To make black
Blacked their faces with charcoal.
Black
To apply blacking to
Blacked the stove.
Black
Chiefly British To boycott as part of a labor union action.
Black
To become black.
Black
(of an object) Absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and hueless.
Black
(of a place, etc) Without light.
Black
(sometimes capitalized) Belonging to or descended from any of various (African, Aboriginal, etc) ethnic groups which typically have dark pigmentation of the skin. See usage notes below.
Black
(US) Belonging to or descended from any of various sub-Saharan African ethnic groups which typically have dark pigmentation of the skin.
Black
Designated for use by those ethnic groups (as described above).
Black drinking fountain; black hospital
Black
Of the spades or clubs suits. Compare of the hearts or diamonds suit
I was dealt two red queens, and he got one of the black queens.
Black
Bad; evil; ill-omened.
Black
Expressing menace, or discontent; threatening; sullen.
He shot her a black look.
Black
(of objects, markets, etc) Illegitimate, illegal or disgraced.
Black
Foul; dirty, soiled.
Black
Overcrowded.
Black
(of coffee or tea) Without any cream, milk, or creamer.
Jim drinks his coffee black, but Ellen prefers it with creamer.
Black
Of or relating to the playing pieces of a board game deemed to belong to the "black" set (in chess the set used by the player who moves second) often regardless of the pieces' actual colour.
The black pieces in this chess set are made of dark blue glass.
Black
(politics) Anarchist; of or pertaining to anarchism.
Black
(typography) Said of a symbol or character that is solid, filled with color. Compare said of a character or symbol outline, not filled with color.
Black
(politics) Related to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany.
After the election, the parties united in a black-yellow alliance.
Black
Clandestine; relating to a political, military, or espionage operation or site, the existence or details of which is withheld from the general public.
5 percent of the Defense Department funding will go to black projects.
Black operations/black ops, black room, black site
Black
Occult; relating to something (such as mystical or magical knowledge) which is unknown to or kept secret from the general public.
Black
Protestant, often with the implication of being militantly pro-British or anti-Catholic. 1=Compare blackmouth ("Presbyterian").
The Royal Black Institution
Black
Having one or more features (hair, fur, armour, clothes, bark, etc) that is dark (or black); in taxonomy, especially: dark in comparison to another species with the same base name.
Black birch, black locust, black rhino
The black knight, black bile
Black
The colour/color perceived in the absence of light, but also when no light is reflected, but rather absorbed.
Black
A black dye or pigment.
Black
(countable) A pen, pencil, crayon, etc., made of black pigment.
Black
(in the plural) Black cloth hung up at funerals.
Black
A member of descendant of any of various (African, Aboriginal, etc) ethnic groups which typically have dark pigmentation of the skin. See usage notes.
Black
(informal) Blackness, the condition of belonging to or being descended from one of these ethnic groups.
Black don't crack
Black
The black ball.
Black
The edge of home plate.
Black
A type of firecracker that is really more dark brown in colour.
Black
, especially as syrup or crème de cassis used for cocktails.
Pernod and black... snakebite and black... cider and black...
Black
The person playing with the black set of pieces.
At this point black makes a disastrous move.
Black
(countable) Something, or a part of a thing, which is black.
Black
A stain; a spot.
Black
A dark smut fungus, harmful to wheat.
Black
Marijuana.
Black
(transitive) To make black; to blacken.
Black
(transitive) To apply blacking to (something).
Black
To boycott, usually as part of an industrial dispute.
Black
(pornography) of a white woman To be fucked by a black man.
Black
Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the color of soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark color, the opposite of white; characterized by such a color; as, black cloth; black hair or eyes.
O night, with hue so black!
Black
In a less literal sense: Enveloped or shrouded in darkness; very dark or gloomy; as, a black night; the heavens black with clouds.
I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud.
Black
Fig.: Dismal, gloomy, or forbidding, like darkness; destitute of moral light or goodness; atrociously wicked; cruel; mournful; calamitous; horrible.
Black
Expressing menace, or discontent; threatening; sullen; foreboding; as, to regard one with black looks.
Black
Sullenly; threateningly; maliciously; so as to produce blackness.
Black
That which is destitute of light or whiteness; the darkest color, or rather a destitution of all color; as, a cloth has a good black.
Black is the badge of hell,The hue of dungeons, and the suit of night.
Black
A black pigment or dye.
Black
A negro; a person whose skin is of a black color, or shaded with black; esp. a member or descendant of certain African races.
Black
The part of a thing which is distinguished from the rest by being black.
The black or sight of the eye.
Black
A stain; a spot; a smooch.
Defiling her white lawn of chastity with ugly blacks of lust.
Black
To make black; to blacken; to soil; to sully.
They have their teeth blacked, both men and women, for they say a dog hath his teeth white, therefore they will black theirs.
Sins which black thy soul.
Black
To make black and shining, as boots or a stove, by applying blacking and then polishing with a brush.
Black
The quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
Black
Total absence of light;
They fumbled around in total darkness
In the black of night
Black
British chemist who identified carbon dioxide and who formulated the concepts of specific heat and latent heat (1728-1799)
Black
Popular child actress of the 1930's (born 1927)
Black
A person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa)
Black
(board games) the darker pieces
Black
Black clothing (worn as a sign of mourning);
The widow wore black
Black
Make or become black;
The smoke blackened the ceiling
The ceiling blackened
Black
Being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light;
Black leather jackets
As black as coal
Rich black soil
Black
Of or belonging to a racial group having dark skin especially of sub-Saharan African origin;
A great people--a black people--...injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization
Black
Marked by anger or resentment or hostility;
Black looks
Black words
Black
Stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable;
Black deeds
A black lie
His black heart has concocted yet another black deed
Darth Vader of the dark side
A dark purpose
Dark undercurrents of ethnic hostility
The scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing him
Black
Offering little or no hope;
The future looked black
Prospects were bleak
Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult
Took a dim view of things
Black
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin;
The stock market crashed on Black Friday
A calamitous defeat
The battle was a disastrous end to a disastrous campaign
Such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory
It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it
A fateful error
Black
Extremely dark;
A black moonless night
Through the pitch-black woods
It was pitch-dark in the celler
Black
Harshly ironic or sinister;
Black humor
A grim joke
Grim laughter
Fun ranging from slapstick clowning ... to savage mordant wit
Black
(of intelligence operations) deliberately misleading;
Black propaganda
Black
Distributed or sold illicitly;
The black economy pays no taxes
Black
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame;
Man...has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands
An ignominious retreat
Inglorious defeat
An opprobrious monument to human greed
A shameful display of cowardice
Black
(of coffee) without cream or sugar
Black
Dressed in black;
A black knight
Black friars
Black
Soiled with dirt or soot;
With feet black from playing outdoors
His shirt was black within an hour
Common Curiosities
What does it mean when a text is "blacked out"?
It means parts of the text have been obscured or censored, usually for privacy or security reasons.
Can "black" and "blacked" be used interchangeably?
No, "black" is used to describe the color or as a metaphor for certain qualities, while "blacked" refers to the act of making something black or obscuring it.
Can "blacked" imply a permanent change?
While "blacked" often suggests a temporary action, such as obscuring information or a blackout, it can imply permanence depending on the context, like a permanently redacted document.
How is "black" used in cultural contexts?
"Black" can refer to racial identity and cultural heritage, particularly relating to people of African descent.
Can "black" refer to both an absence and presence of color?
Yes, in art and design, black is often considered the absence of color (in light), but in pigment, it's seen as a combination of all colors.
Is "blacked" only used in negative contexts?
While "blacked" often appears in contexts like censorship or loss of consciousness, it can be neutral, such as in technical descriptions of stage lighting or privacy measures.
What does "blacked out" mean in terms of memory?
It refers to a temporary loss of memory, often due to alcohol intoxication or traumatic events.
What does "in the black" mean in financial terms?
It means being profitable, as opposed to "in the red," which means operating at a loss.
Are there positive associations with the color black?
Yes, black can symbolize power, elegance, and sophistication, especially in fashion and design.
Can "black" be used in a celebratory context?
Absolutely, "black" is often featured in formal wear and elegant designs, playing a central role in celebrations and prestigious events.
How has the perception of "black" changed in fashion over time?
Historically associated with mourning, black has evolved to signify chicness and timeless elegance in modern fashion.
How do cultural perceptions of "black" vary around the world?
Cultural interpretations can vary significantly, with "black" symbolizing mourning in some cultures, while in others, it may represent fertility or prosperity.
What role does "black" play in environmental and ecological contexts?
"Black" can refer to phenomena like black ice or oil spills, highlighting environmental challenges and dangers.
Is "blacked out" always related to alcohol consumption?
No, "blacked out" can refer to any loss of consciousness or memory, not just those related to alcohol.
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Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
