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
1
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
1
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 notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like silhouette.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- silhouettes
- Third person singular
- silhouettes
- Past tense
- silhouetted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Class of 1700
silhouette joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Rhymes for silhouette
See all rhymes for silhouette →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.
