In the black (7)

Latest answer — September 21, 2026

9 Across

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Clue explained

Someone who is solvent has enough money to meet their debts, so they are financially ‘in the black’.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
An illustration representing financial solvency and paid debts

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue's Monday, September 21, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Area where many trees grown (9)
  2. 8Scrubby land (5)
  3. 9In the black (7)
  4. 10Silencers (8)
  5. 11European capital (4)
  6. 13Became warm, in a way - endear (anag) (6)
  7. 14One sign of twelve (6)
  8. 16Be hopeless (4)
  9. 17Commotion (8)
  10. 19Killer element? (7)
  11. 20Wash under tap (5)
  12. 21Area, population 0 (5,4)

Down

  1. 1Iliad character (8)
  2. 2Small eatery (6)
  3. 3Ruffle the feathers of (4)
  4. 4Search for doubloons, or perhaps Easter eggs? (8,4)
  5. 5Streaky display at night? (6,6)
  6. 6Cockney talk (7,5)
  7. 7US 'City by the Bay' (3,9)
  8. 12Big pot (8)
  9. 15South American cowboy (6)
  10. 18Little biter (4)

The answer to “In the black (7)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is SOLVENT — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 21, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 9-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“In the black (7)” answer

SOLVENT (7 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is SOLVENT.

What does SOLVENT mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of SOLVENT is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • having assets in excess of liabilities; able to pay one's debts
  • able to dissolve other substances

When else has “In the black (7)” appeared?

The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 21, 2026 (most recent) → SOLVENT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “In the black (7)”?

The answer is SOLVENT, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 21, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “In the black (7)”?

7 letters: SOLVENT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on September 21, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 9-Across.

Can “In the black (7)” have a different answer?

Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?

The full grid for September 21, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Guardian Quick Crossword is published by The Guardian; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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