What type of moon is described as having the dark side facing Earth?

The new moon is characterized by the side of the moon that faces Earth being completely dark. During this phase, the illuminated part of the moon is facing away from us, so we cannot see it from our perspective on Earth. This lack of visible light gives the moon its "dark side," which is not to be confused with the concept of the far side of the moon, which is always on the opposite side regardless of its phase.

In contrast, the waxing crescent, full moon, and half moon (also known as the first and last quarter) all have at least a portion of their illuminated surface visible from Earth. During a waxing crescent, a small sliver of the moon is lit; a full moon appears as a fully illuminated circle; and the half moon shows half of its surface illuminated. Therefore, the new moon is distinct in that it is completely dark from our vantage point, making it the correct answer to the question posed.