Form of detective fiction
Latest answer — August 16, 2026
36 Down
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Clue explained
Noir is a style or form of detective fiction marked by dark settings, cynicism, and morally troubled characters. The word is borrowed from French, literally meaning “black.”
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- Definition
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, August 16, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Form of detective fiction” in the New York Times crossword is NOIR — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 16, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 36-Down. 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.
“Form of detective fiction” answer
NOIR (4 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 NOIR.
What does NOIR mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of NOIR is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity
When else has “Form of detective fiction” appeared?
New York Times 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.
August 16, 2026 (most recent) → NOIR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Form of detective fiction”?
The answer is NOIR, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 16, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Form of detective fiction”?
4 letters: NOIR.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 16, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 36-Down.
Can “Form of detective fiction” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times 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 NYT Crossword answers?
The full grid for August 16, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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