in black and white

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈblack-and-ˈwhite,  adj. 

1. showing or displaying only black and white or gray tones;
   lacking color:
   black-and-white photos.
2. (of an issue, problem, or situation) having only two possible sides or only two possible values:
   those who think in black-and-white terms.

Idioms

3. in black and white, written down:
   I'd like to see your plans in black and white.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

black-and-white noun

1. a photograph, picture, sketch, etc, in black, white, and shades of grey rather than in colour
2. (as modifier): black-and-white film
3. the neutral tones of black, white, and intermediate shades of grey
   Compare colour2
4. in black and white ⇒ in print or writing
5. in extremes: he always saw things in black and white