silhouette
sil-oo-ET
/ˌsɪluˈɛt/
The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background, especially in a portrait or profile.
A silhouette focuses entirely on the outer boundary of a shape, with the interior filled in as a solid, dark color (usually black), stripping away all internal details.
The story behind the word. During the Seven Years' War, France was in a severe economic crisis. The finance minister, Étienne de Silhouette, imposed such harsh, penny-pinching taxes on the wealthy that his name became synonymous with anything cheap or cut-rate. At the time, cut-paper profiles were the cheapest portraits available, so people mockingly called them 'silhouettes'.
Word relationships
- outline: An 'outline' is the line that defines a shape, whereas a 'silhouette' is the entire filled-in dark shape itself.
- shadow: A 'shadow' is cast onto a surface by an object blocking light, while a 'silhouette' is the view of the object itself seen against a bright background.
Commonly confused with
- profile: A 'profile' is a side view of a face or object, which can include details, while a 'silhouette' is a solid dark shape from any angle (though often a profile).
Word family
- silhouetted (adjective): Shown as a dark shape against a lighter background.
Collocations
- stark silhouette
- silhouette portrait
- cast a silhouette
- silhouette against the sky
Example sentences
- "The dark silhouette of the castle stood out against the brilliant orange sunset." A description of a sunset scene.
- "Using a pair of fine scissors, she cut out a delicate silhouette of her daughter's profile from black cardstock." A classic papercrafting technique.
Memory hook
Think of a 'silent wet' shadow. A silhouette is silent, dark, and stands out like a wet shadow on a wall. Silhouette is a solid dark outline.
When not to use
Do not use 'silhouette' if the image shows internal details like eyes, clothing patterns, or shading.
Fun facts
- Before the invention of photography, silhouette cutters were popular street artists who could snip a highly accurate likeness of a person's profile in less than two minutes.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.