pastel

¹ American  

[pa-stel, pas-tl] / pæˈstɛl, ˈpæs tl /

noun

1. a color having a soft, subdued shade.

2. a kind of dried paste made of pigments ground with chalk and compounded with gum water.

3. a chalklike crayon made from such paste.

4. the art of drawing with such crayons.

5. a drawing so made.

6. a short, light prose study or sketch.

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adjective

1. having a soft, subdued shade.

2. drawn with pastels.

   a pastel portrait.

pastel ² American  

[pas-tel] / ˈpæs tɛl /

noun

1. the woad plant.

2. the dye made from it.

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pastel British  

/ pæˈstɛl, ˈpæstəl /

noun

1. 1. a substance made of ground pigment bound with gum, used for making sticks for drawing

   2. a crayon of this

   3. a drawing done in such crayons

2. the medium or technique of pastel drawing

3. a pale delicate colour

4. a light prose work, esp a poetic one

5. another name for woad

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adjective

1. (of a colour) pale; delicate

   pastel blue

Other Word Forms

• pastelist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pastel¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus, variant of Latin pastillus pastille

Origin of pastel²

First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French pastel “woad,” from Provençal, from Medieval Latin pastellum (neuter) “woad” (originally “woad paste”), for Late Latin pastellus (masculine), diminutive of pasta paste

Explanation

A pastel is a soft, pale color. If your favorite shades are light blue and pale pink, you can say that you prefer pastels. Pastel is also an adjective describing a soft color, like a pastel shade of green or a pastel lavender dress. Another kind of pastel is the artist's crayon made of powdered pigments bound together in a solid stick, which produce soft, blended colors. Starting in the late 1800s, pastel was used to mean "soft shade" as well as "soft art medium." In French, pastel means "crayon."

Example Sentences

The vivid pink began to fade after four days, becoming a softer pastel shade.

From Science Daily • May 2, 2026

I’m told linen suits will be coming in soon in the pastel colors I’m looking for.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

I first encountered Louisa May Alcott in an abridged children’s edition of “Little Women” that was brimming with pastel illustrations and tidy moral lessons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Le Particulier Miami – This newly opened Mid-Beach gem embraces Art Deco whimsy with pastel pinks and purples, brass accents and flamingo-covered wallpaper.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2026

What a landing party we were as we stalked about, identically dressed in saddle oxfords, long-tailed shirts, and pastel cotton pants, but all so different.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• delicate