colored

[kuhl-erd]

adjective

1. having color.

2. Older Use: Offensive.,  belonging wholly or in part to any group of nonwhite people, especially to Black people.

3. Older Use: Offensive.,  pertaining to Black people.

4. influenced or biased.

   colored opinions.

5. specious; deceptive.

   The authorities detected a colored quality in her statement.

6. Botany.,  of some hue other than green.

noun

1. Older Use: Offensive.

   1. a Black person.

   2. the colored, Black people as a group.

2. Cape Colored.

Sensitive Note

See Black ¹.

Other Word Forms

• half-colored adjective
• uncolored adjective
• uncoloredly adverb
• uncoloredness noun
• undercolored adjective
• well-colored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of colored¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; color, -ed ³

Example Sentences

“Most of these drinks were served in clubs and discotheques… they were brightly colored. If you’re at a discotheque, you don’t want a glass of brown liquor.”

Read more on Salon

Rosner’s imagery is abstract and often looks like the computer graphics you might choose for a screen saver, but better, brilliantly colored and alive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“A brightly colored balloon floating across a clear blue sky? What secrecy can there be in that?”

Read more on Literature

“The Incorrigibles have very strikingly colored hair,” she said thoughtfully, gazing down at the three tousled heads.

Read more on Literature

The garishly colored creature was perched on the first mate’s shoulder.

Read more on Literature

When To Use

Spelling tips for colored

The word colored is hard to spell for three reasons. First, it can be tempting to use a double l or double r. Second, in British English, the word is spelled with a u (colored), unlike in American English. Finally, the ending -ed is pronounced simply [ d ], so one may forget the e. How to spell colored: When it comes to color, keep it simple. You don't need any extra letters, like a double l, double r, or u. For adjectives like colored that end with the sound [ d ], remember that you will always need a little Extra (e) to get it Done, -ed.