adjective
Common
colored
KUH-luhrd
Colored (adjective) means having a particular color, especially a color other than plain black, white, or gray. Example: “She wore a brightly colored scarf to the winter market.”
adjective
1
Having a particular color, especially a color other than plain black, white, or gray.
"She wore a brightly colored scarf to the winter market."
"Colored lights hung along the street for the festival."
"Nara and its deer are so closely associated that the light-brown colored animals are pictured in the city’s tourism ads, on buses, train tickets and more."
— Lilit Marcus, Japan may be sick of mass tourism. But the deer in this ancient UNESCO-listed city love it (2024)
"The kids picked out colored pencils for their art project."
"The room was red, with a dark-colored rug."
2
An outdated and now offensive term historically used to describe Black people or people of color in the US.
"The term "colored" appears in old civil-rights-era signage and is now considered offensive."
How to use colored
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something with color — but be careful, as a label for people it is an outdated and offensive term in most English-speaking countries today.
When to use it
As a description of race, "colored" is dated and offensive in the US and UK; it survives as a distinct, non-offensive term in South Africa referring to a specific mixed-race community.
UK vs US
American spelling; British English uses "coloured."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- coloreds
- Comparative
- more colored
- Superlative
- most colored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore a brightly _____ scarf to the winter market.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for colored
See all rhymes for colored →Frequently asked questions
What does “colored” mean?
The word “colored” means having a particular color, especially a color other than plain black, white, or gray. In plain terms, describes something with color — but be careful, as a label for people it is an outdated and offensive term in most English-speaking countries today.
How do you pronounce “colored”?
“Colored” is pronounced KUH-luhrd (/ˈkʌləɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “colored” in a sentence?
Here is “colored” used in a sentence: “The kids picked out colored pencils for their art project.”
What is another word for “colored”?
Words with a similar meaning to “colored” include hued.
What is the opposite of “colored”?
The opposite of “colored” — its antonyms — are achromatic and colorless.
What part of speech is “colored”?
“Colored” is an adjective.
Is “colored” a common word?
“Colored” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “colored” have?
“Colored” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a particular color, especially a color other than plain black, white, or gray.
What is the difference between 'colored' and 'coloured'?
They are the same word with different spellings: 'colored' is American English and 'coloured' is British English. The meaning, having a particular color, is identical.
Is it offensive to use 'colored' to describe a person?
Yes. Used to describe a person's race, 'colored' is an outdated term that is now widely considered offensive. The accepted modern phrasing is 'person of color' or 'people of color.'
What is the difference between 'colored' and 'colorful'?
'Colored' means having a particular color, often one other than plain black, white, or grey. 'Colorful' means having many bright colors or being vivid and lively, so a colorful scene is richer than one that is merely colored.
What is the difference between 'colored' and 'people of color'?
When applied to people, 'colored' is an outdated and offensive term that should be avoided. 'People of color' is the current, accepted collective phrase for people who are not white.
