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

Anguish colored the faces of Maria's son and another daughter, age 16, as they stepped in to continue running the tamale cart in the very spot where their mother was taken into custody.

Read more on Barron's

A newer alternative relies on quantum dots—tiny semiconductor particles that transform electrical energy into colored light.

Read more on Science Daily

Upstairs, the exhibition highlights 19th-century innovations, including the introduction of colored porcelain in celadon, and enameled, painted and gilded pieces.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One option Walmart has considered: using a clear liquid and colored packaging instead.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

An individual player’s performance in the game can be posted online without revealing the answer, as the colored tiles are shown without the letters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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.