black belt
1
3.8
- noun
- /blæk bɛlt/
- Specialized
:
Black Belt (Six Sigma)
- Achieving a black belt in Six Sigma signifies that you have mastered advanced process-improvement techniques.
Examples
-
His black belt dangles between sturdy thighs.
Fiction book (1997) -
I have a black belt in Six Sigma, which is like a master's in business statistics and root cause analysis.
Blog text (4) -
In Lean and Six Sigma, a few people become black belts, which is really about the highest level you'll find in large proportion.
-
To become a black belt in Six Sigma, you must undergo rigorous training and demonstrate expertise in project management.
-
He earned his black belt after completing multiple projects and passing the certification exam in Six Sigma.
Surface Forms
Morphology
black + belt
Literally 'black belt' is compositional (a belt that is black) and is widely used in martial arts to denote a high rank; the Six Sigma sense is a metaphorical extension of that rank sense to professional certification. A B1 learner who knows only the constituent words would not reliably infer the domain-specific Six Sigma meaning without prior exposure or knowledge of the martial-arts metaphor, so the relation is partial rather than fully transparent.
Etymology
Black belt in Six Sigma uses the image of the martial arts black belt to show someone has advanced training in process improvement. So a black belt in Six Sigma means 'a person with advanced training who leads improvement projects'.