black belt

1 of 2

noun (1)

: one who holds the rating of expert in various arts of self-defense (such as judo and karate)

also : the rating itself

black belt

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈblak-ˌbelt 

1

: an area characterized by rich black soil

2

often capitalized both Bs : an area densely populated by Black people

The story of civil rights in Tuskegee is also a study in ambiguity, for it is a history at once unusual and typical of the Southern black belt.

—Jim Haskins

Examples of black belt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While that is technically true — Drew reached junior black belt status learning TaeKwonDo in eighth grade — the offhand remark caused a serious misunderstanding. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024

This black belt has a timeless, luxe gold Western-style buckle. —Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024

Tie the look together with a skinny black belt, which is a classic addition to your travel wardrobe and is perfect to mix and match along your trip. —Riana Singh, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024

Grimes is darn near a black belt in this regard, placing in the 84th percentile in true shooting on drives (per Thinking Basketball). —Mat Issa, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1911, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

black belt

noun

: one holding the rating of expert especially in various arts of self-defense (as karate)

also : the rating itself

Geographical Definition

Black Belt

geographical name

strip of rolling prairie land extending across central Alabama and Mississippi with fertile black clayey soil formerly notable for the production of cotton