Meaning & use
the dark art
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableliterary
A type of magic that is believed to involve evil or harmful forces.
Grammar: Countable when talking about one specific branch of magic; often used in the plural 'the dark arts' for the whole field.
Patterns
- practice the dark art
- the dark art of something
- study the dark arts
In the story, the wizard was tempted to use the dark art to save his brother.
Villagers feared anyone who practiced the dark art.
The old book described the dark art of summoning storms.
nouncountablefigurative
A skill or activity that is mysterious, secret, or morally questionable.
Grammar: Often used in the plural 'the dark arts' to mean a set of such skills, especially in business or politics.
Patterns
- the dark art of something
- master the dark art
- the dark arts of politics
He mastered the dark art of persuading people to agree with him.
Tax avoidance is sometimes called a dark art practiced by large companies.
She learned the dark arts of negotiation from a tough mentor.
Word forms
| plural | dark arts |
|---|
Common combinations
- practice the dark art
- Some lawyers practice the dark art of delaying a case for years.
- the dark art of something
- He knows the dark art of making bad news sound good.
- master the dark art
- She mastered the dark art of getting people to talk.
- the dark arts
- The company used the dark arts of marketing to hide the truth.
Synonyms and how they differ
- black magic
- More direct and often literal; 'the dark art' is more literary and can be figurative.
- sorcery
- Focuses on magic itself; 'the dark art' often suggests a specific secret skill.
Opposites
Word family
- dark adjective
- Having little or no light; also used for things that are evil or mysterious.
- art noun
- A skill or creative activity; in this phrase it means a special skill.
Commonly confused: the dark art or dark arts?
the dark art vs dark arts
The plural form usually means a set of secret or questionable skills, while 'the dark art' often refers to one specific practice.
Practice
The journalist described lobbying as the ______ of politics.
Choose one answer.
The singular 'dark art' fits the pattern 'the ______ of politics' when referring to one secret skill. 'Dark arts' is plural and would need different wording, while 'darkly art' and 'dark artist' are not correct forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the dark art”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.