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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

the new black en · NOUN

Etymology

The phrase originates with clothing fashion, where at one point black was a fashionable color in clothes, and the next color to become fashionable was referred to as "the new black".

Meanings

  1. Something that is trendy, popular; the latest fashion.
    • The writer and political activist A. Sivanandan has argued that ‘poverty is the new black’ (2001). 2009, Graham Huggan, Ian Law, Racism Postcolonialism Europe, page 77:
    • EMILY: ... I'm interested in the brain, and stuff... neurology... it's very trendy right now. RICHARD. Neurology. It's the new black. 2008, Nina Raine, Rabbit, page 49:
    • These reporters are so caught up in the ‘red is the new black’ mentality," he says, "they're more interested in selling clothes than taking a stand on anything. 2004, Out, volume 4, numbers 1-5, page 14:

Relateds

the new rock and roll