Showing results for "colored"

• past participle of color.
• past tense form of color.

colored

American  

[kuhl-erd] / ˈkʌl ərd /

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.

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of colored

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

colored

Steven C. Kemp’s sets contrasted the forbiddingly gray and angular environment of Atlas with the riotously colored, luminescent trees and rocks of the world outside.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

Then participants draw their individual targets on paper with colored markers that Fadel provides.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

The new naturally colored M&M’s lineup, minus blue and brown, will be available exclusively through Amazon.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026

When a player enters a guess, such as "BRAVE," the game responds with colored squares that provide hints about the hidden word:

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

“It isn’t,” I said, wishing to hold her close and warn her: don't be deceived, those walls aren't polished marble, they're particleboard, sawdust, and plaster, colored white with lead.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros