blackface

English

Vaudevillian Bert Williams in blackface, 1921

Alternative forms

• Blackface

Etymology

From black +‎ face.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈblækˌfeɪs/

Noun

blackface (countable and uncountable, plural blackfaces)

1. (uncountable) A style of makeup in which a non-black person blackens their face, usually in order to portray a black person.
   • 2019, Farah Andrews, “Filipina Actress Liza Soberano Slammed for Mel B 'Blackface'”, in The National News:

     Soberano hit back at Instagram comments, writing, "This is not any form of blackface." But has since backtracked.

2. (countable) A sheep of the Scottish Blackface breed.
3. Synonym of boldface
   • 1917, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Journal - Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania‎^[1], →OCLC:

     The laboratory procedure in the most important tests and methods is printed in blackface type for convenience of reference.

Derived terms

• blackfacing
• digital blackface
• vocal blackface

 

Related terms

• blaccent
• blackfaced
• blackfish
• blackvoice
• brownface
• redface
• transface
• whiteface
• yellowface