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Before a storm arrives, the horizon can become a gallery of dark shapes. Trees lose their colour, buildings shed their details and people appear as little more than outlines against the fading sky. Yet those outlines are often enough for recognition. A familiar profile, a distinctive posture or the shape of a landmark can reveal its identity even when everything else disappears. This visual effect lies at the heart of the word silhouette . The term reminds us that shape alone can be surprisingly expressive, carrying meaning without the need for colour, texture or fine detail.


What does the word Silhouette mean

A silhouette is the visible outline of a person, object or scene when it appears dark against a brighter background. The word can also refer to the general shape or profile that makes something recognisable.


Pronunciation of the word Silhouette

• Phonetic pronunciation: /ˌsɪluˈet/
• Simple pronunciation: sil-oo-ET
• The stress falls on the syllable: ET

Origin of the word Silhouette

The term entered English from French during the eighteenth century. It became associated with portrait images that represented only a person's outline, a style that relied on shape rather than detailed artistic features.


How to use the word Silhouette in sentences

• The silhouette of the old lighthouse stood out against the evening sky.
• From a distance, only the silhouette of the cyclist was visible through the fog.
• The designer focused on creating a clean and elegant silhouette for the collection.
• As the sun set, the trees formed a dramatic silhouette along the ridge.

Synonyms of Silhouette

• Outline
• Contour
• Profile
• Form

Antonyms of Silhouette

• Detail
• Interior
• Substance
• Depth