black and white

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black and white • adj. 1. (of a photograph, movie, television program, or illustration) in black, white, and shades of gray: old black-and-white movies. ∎  (of a television) displaying images only in black, white, and shades of gray.2. (of a situation or debate) involving clearly defined opposing principles or issues: there is nothing black and white about these matters.• n. inf. a police car.PHRASES: in black and white1. in writing or in print, and regarded as more reliable, credible, or formal than by word of mouth: getting her contract down in black and white.2. in terms of clearly defined opposing principles or issues: children think in black and white, good and bad.