black death: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Historical, Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “black death” mean?
the great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe and Asia in the 14th century.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe and Asia in the 14th century.
any catastrophic epidemic or pandemic with extremely high mortality; metaphorically, any devastating, unstoppable force of destruction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. Slightly more common in British academic texts due to the plague's significant impact on British history.
Connotations
Both regions strongly associate it with the historical pandemic. Metaphorical use is equally understood.
Frequency
Low frequency in general conversation, moderate in historical/academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “black death” in a Sentence
[the] + Black Death + [verb (swept, killed, decimated, ravaged)][preposition (during, after, before)] + the Black Deaththe + Black Death + of + [location/period]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black death” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The population was Black-Death-ed by the outbreak.
- The region was utterly Black Death-ridden.
American English
- The economy was Black-Death-ed by the crisis.
- The industry was Black Death-stricken.
adverb
British English
- The disease spread Black-Death-quickly through the crowded city.
- The population fell Black-Death-swiftly.
American English
- The virus moved Black Death-fast through the community.
- The market collapsed Black Death-quick.
adjective
British English
- The Black Death years were catastrophic.
- A Black Death-level catastrophe.
American English
- A Black Death scenario unfolded.
- It had a Black Death-like impact.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for a catastrophic market collapse or industry-disrupting event. (e.g., 'The new regulation was the Black Death for the industry.')
Academic
Standard term for the mid-14th century pandemic, used in history, epidemiology, and sociology.
Everyday
Rarely used except in historical discussions or hyperbolic metaphors for bad situations.
Technical
Specific historical term in epidemiology and historiography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black death”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black death”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black death”
- Incorrect capitalization ('black death').
- Using it to refer to any plague outbreak, not specifically the 14th-century one.
- Omitting the definite article 'the'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes. It specifically refers to the 14th-century pandemic. However, it is commonly used as a powerful metaphor for any devastating modern epidemic or crisis.
The term likely originated from the dark patches on the skin caused by subcutaneous hemorrhages (bruising) in some victims, and from the sense of 'black' meaning terrible or dreadful.
Yes, when referring to the specific historical event, it is a proper noun and should be capitalized as 'the Black Death'.
You can use it metaphorically for rhetorical impact (e.g., 'the economic Black Death'), but it is inaccurate and potentially insensitive to directly equate a modern pandemic with the specific historical Black Death in a literal sense.
the great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe and Asia in the 14th century.
Black death is usually historical, formal, academic in register.
Black death: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈdeθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈdeθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(like) a Black Death (for something) = something devastatingly destructive”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BLACK = darkness, death; DEATH = the end. It was the 'dark death' that swept medieval Europe.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLAGUE IS A SCOURGE / DEVASTATION IS A PLAGUE
Practice
Quiz
What is the Black Death most specifically?