noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

silhouette

sih-luu-WEHT

Silhouette (noun) means a dark solid outline or shape seen against a lighter background, showing only the outer form. Example: “We could see her silhouette in the doorway as the sun set behind her.”

noun

A dark solid outline or shape seen against a lighter background, showing only the outer form.

"We could see her silhouette in the doorway as the sun set behind her."

"The artist cut a silhouette of the child's profile from black paper."

verb

To appear or be shown as a dark outline against light.

"The mountains were silhouetted against the orange evening sky."

How to use silhouette

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dark outline shape, like a shadow cutout, seen against a bright background.

Common pairings

a silhouette against the sky cut a silhouette silhouetted figure

Word forms

silhouetted past tense, silhouettes plural, silhouettes singular

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We could see her _____ in the doorway as the sun set behind her.

Etymology

Named after Étienne de Silhouette, an 18th-century French finance minister known for his stinginess — cut-out black-outline portraits were a cheap alternative to painted ones, and the joke stuck.

Origin: French · First attested 1700

Class of 1700 silhouette joined the language around 1700.

ache argh battleship bootleg Boswell

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Rhymes for silhouette

Bette Vette Yvette palette gazette rosette Annette Lynette Colette Lisette Janette Suzette

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Frequently asked questions

What does “silhouette” mean?

The word “silhouette” means a dark solid outline or shape seen against a lighter background, showing only the outer form. In plain terms, a dark outline shape, like a shadow cutout, seen against a bright background.

How do you pronounce “silhouette”?

“Silhouette” is pronounced sih-luu-WEHT (/ˌsɪ.lʊˈwɛt/ in IPA).

How do you use “silhouette” in a sentence?

Here is “silhouette” used in a sentence: “We could see her silhouette in the doorway as the sun set behind her.”

What part of speech is “silhouette”?

Depending on how it is used, “silhouette” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “silhouette” come from?

The word “silhouette” dates back to around 1700 and comes from French. Named after Étienne de Silhouette, an 18th-century French finance minister known for his stinginess — cut-out black-outline portraits were a cheap alternative to painted ones, and the joke stuck.

Is “silhouette” a common word?

“Silhouette” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “silhouette” have?

“Silhouette” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dark solid outline or shape seen against a lighter background, showing only the outer form.