primary color

noun

1. Art. a color, as red, yellow, or blue, that in mixture yields other colors. Compare complementary color ( def 1 ), secondary color, tertiary color.
2. Optics. any of a set of monochromatic colors, as red, green, and blue, that are added to match or specify the chromaticity of a stimulus or sample.

primary color

1. Any of a group of colors from which all other colors can be made by mixing.
2. See more at additiveSee Note at color

Word History and Origins

Origin of primary color¹

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Among the mellow pigments of the Roman canvas she was a glaring splotch of primary color.

From Project Gutenberg

As a primary color, it is much more rarely seen in nature than either red or yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

His mind filed it away together with a primary-color picture of Jiggs and Maggie.

From Project Gutenberg

They usually contain a mixture of a primary color common to both.

From Project Gutenberg

Both these experiments may be made with the primary color wheel or color top.

From Project Gutenberg