blackface

noun

black·​face ˈblak-ˌfās 

often attributive

1

: dark makeup worn to mimic the appearance of a Black person and especially to mock or ridicule Black people

Note: The wearing of blackface by white performers was, from the early 19th through the mid-20th centuries, a prominent feature of minstrel shows (see minstrel sense 3a) and similar forms of entertainment featuring exaggerated and inaccurate caricatures of Black people. The use of blackface is considered deeply offensive.

2

plural blackfaces : a performer wearing blackface : minstrel sense 3a

Examples of blackface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At that time, despite the efforts of Black movements and organizations, the awareness of the racist history and symbolism of blackface hadn’t yet entered the mainstream public consciousness in Brazil. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2025

Kelly’s talk show Megyn Kelly Today began in late 2017 and was canceled in 2018 due to her comments defending White people dressing in blackface for Halloween. —Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025

This is not an image of himself as Kier Eagan, but of Kier in blackface to appease a useful Black underling. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025

The New York Republican has previously faced scrutiny after a photo emerged of him dressed in blackface, in a Michael Jackson costume, nearly 20 years ago. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing blackface

• digital blackface

Rhymes for blackface

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase
• crankcase