black eye /ˌblæk ˈaɪ/ noun4 •A periorbital hematoma; a visible bruise surrounding a person's eye; an assault causing such a bruise; the eye involved."You got a black eye out of him, and that's for publication. We can't have this reign of terror, Mr. Malone." — 1912 •(figurative) A defeat. •(figurative) Damage to a reputation. •(old-fashioned) An eye having a dark iris, regarded as a point of beauty. formsblack eyes