black box

1 of 2

noun

: a usually complicated electronic device whose internal mechanism is usually hidden from or mysterious to the user

broadly : anything that has mysterious or unknown internal functions or mechanisms

: a crashworthy device in aircraft for recording cockpit conversations and flight data

: a device in an automobile that records information (such as speed, temperature, or gasoline efficiency) which can be used to monitor vehicle performance or determine a cause in the event of an accident

black box

2 of 2

adjective

: being or containing a warning of a serious or life-threatening side effect (such as stroke or muscle damage) that is highlighted by a black border on a prescription drug's label or accompanying literature

Example Sentences

Noun The black boxes were recovered from the crash site and provided useful information about the cause of the crash.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In addition, at each place setting, there was a black box of six vape pens courtesy of Prëst, a brand sponsor of the dinner.

Robert Simonson, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2022 The presentation is intimate, warm and dark, like a black box theater or library study nook, giving videos in particular the opportunity to shine.

Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022 While this can provide more powerful insights, how the deep learning algorithm comes to its conclusions is unexplainable — a situation that computer scientists call the black box problem.

Simar Bajaj, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022 Deborah Berke has converted into an efficient, luminous compound containing artist studios, production facilities, a gallery, a cafe and a black box theater that’s still under construction.

New York Times, 9 July 2022 How drug prices are set in the US is a mysterious black box.

WIRED, 13 Oct. 2022 But because of the way the algorithms work, one, there's sort of a black box.

Wired Staff, WIRED, 1 Sep. 2022 Beginning in October, Storefront — a nonprofit black box theater and gallery space — will move into its new home at 2416 E. 55th Place in Broad Ripple.

Chloe Mcgowan, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Aug. 2022 On Tuesday afternoon, experienced performers strode into a black box theater in the Performing Arts Center on the LEE High School campus, making a beeline for the piano to hand over their sheet music.

Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'black box.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of black box was circa 1945

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Black box.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20box. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Medical Definition

black box

adjective

: being or containing a warning of a serious or life-threatening side effect (as stroke, muscle damage, or suicidal tendencies) that is highlighted by a black border on a prescription drug's label or accompanying literature

A "black box" warning is the most serious warning placed in the labeling of a prescription medication.

Johnathan D. Rockoff, The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram