black box

1 of 2

noun

1

: 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

2

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

3

: 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

Examples of black box in a Sentence

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

Noun

Her appointment would send an unmistakable message: The days of the intelligence community operating as an unaccountable black box are over. —Rand Paul, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024

That project will also break ground this week at 1800 W. University Ave. University officials expect the performing arts center to bring 35,000 visitors to the area through a 450-seat mainstage theater, a black box studio and state-of-the-art production facilities. —Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024

Adjective

The 200-person company, which operates physical locations resembling old-school general stores that also include black box theater spaces, rolled out a sweeping discount offer to pull in cash, founder and CEO Ben Kaufman said. —Brian Cheung, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023

Since then, most dating app companies take a black box approach and don’t talk publicly about what factors into their algorithms. —WIRED, 14 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1968, in the meaning defined above

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