film noir

[nwahr]
noun
a motion picture with an often grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and permeated by a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair.
Origin:
1955–60; < French: literally, black film

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Collins
World English Dictionary
film noir (nwɑː) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
a gangster thriller, made esp in the 1940s in Hollywood characterized by contrasty lighting and often somewhat impenetrable plots
 
[C20: French, literally: black film]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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00:10
Film noir is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

film noir
1958, from Fr. film noir, lit. "black film."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
In the guise of film noir, a gripping psychological drama is revealed.
It's one of the few examples you can state of a director and art director who went after sci-fi film noir.
His research interests include creolization in the arts, folk music, and film noir.
The first season is an origin story set in the present day and features different movie styles, including film noir and action.
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