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noun

tricolour

TRIK-uh-luh
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Tricolour (noun) means a flag made of three equal stripes, each of a different colour. Example: “The French tricolour flew over the town hall.”

noun
1
A flag made of three equal stripes, each of a different colour.
"The French tricolour flew over the town hall."
"Supporters waved tricolours in the square."
"The tricolour is made of three stripes of equal size."
adjective
1
Having three colours.
"She wore a tricolour scarf to the match."
"The tricolour banner hung from the balcony."

How to use tricolour

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA flag of three equal stripes, or simply something with three colours.

When to use it

It is a standard word, most often used of national flags.

Memory tip

Use the spelling tricolor if you are writing for an American audience.

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Common pairings
French tricolour the national tricolour a tricolour flag
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The French _____ flew over the town hall.

Etymology

The word is an anglicised form of French tricolore, since the flag began in France. It can also be seen as tri- joined to colour.

Origin: French

tricolor

Rhymes for tricolour

See all rhymes for tricolour →

Frequently asked questions

What is a tricolour?
A tricolour is a flag with three equal stripes, each in a different colour. The word also describes anything with three colours.
Is tricolour the same as tricolor?
Tricolor is the American spelling. Tricolour is the British spelling.
Which flag started the word tricolour?
The word comes from the French flag, and the name is an anglicised form of the French tricolore.
What is the meaning of tricolour?
"tricolour" (noun) means a flag made of three equal stripes, each of a different colour.