black beauty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Literary, informal, literary-cultural reference
Quick answer
What does “black beauty” mean?
A term primarily referring to a horse with a black coat that is considered attractive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A term primarily referring to a horse with a black coat that is considered attractive.
Most commonly recognized as the title and protagonist of Anna Sewell's 1877 novel about a horse. Can also refer informally to any black object, animal, or person noted for its beauty (e.g., a black car, a gemstone). In specific contexts, it is a slang term for a type of black amphetamine tablet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The novel 'Black Beauty' is equally well-known in both varieties. The descriptive term for a horse might be slightly more prevalent in British English due to the cultural embedding of the novel.
Connotations
Strongly evokes the Victorian novel, animal welfare themes, and nostalgia in both cultures. As slang for a drug, it is recognized but not dominant.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation except in direct reference to the book or when describing a strikingly beautiful black horse.
Grammar
How to Use “black beauty” in a Sentence
[be] + a black beauty[refer to] + as a black beauty[call] + a black beautyVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in literary studies, children's literature, and animal studies contexts.
Everyday
Used to describe a beautiful black animal, or in reference to the classic story.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields; specific slang in certain subcultures (e.g., pharmacology).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black beauty”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black beauty”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black beauty”
- Capitalizing when used descriptively ('We saw a black Beauty in the field.').
- Using it to describe people without clear contextual awareness, which can be awkward or inappropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. The core meaning and most famous reference is to the novel and its horse protagonist. However, by analogy, it can describe other beautiful black things.
It is highly context-dependent and can be risky. While it might be used poetically or within certain communities, it could be perceived as reductive or fetishizing. Generally, avoid using it for people.
It is one of the best-selling books of all time and had a profound impact on animal welfare laws, particularly regarding the treatment of horses. It pioneered the animal story genre from the animal's perspective.
Yes. Capitalized, it is a proper noun referring specifically to the book or its character. Uncapitalized, it is a descriptive noun phrase for any beautiful black entity, most commonly a horse.
A term primarily referring to a horse with a black coat that is considered attractive.
Black beauty is usually literary, informal, literary-cultural reference in register.
Black beauty: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈbjuːti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈbjuːdi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly, but the title itself is a cultural idiom]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the famous book cover: a beautiful, black horse. 'Black' for its colour, 'Beauty' for the book's title and the horse's appearance.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANIMAL (HORSE) AS A NARRATOR OF SUFFERING AND KINDNESS; BLACK COLOUR AS ELEGANCE AND MYSTERY.
Practice
Quiz
In contemporary informal use, 'a black beauty' could refer to: