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.

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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

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

Etymology

Origin of colored

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

Example Sentences

The error traces back to 1999, when a researcher encountered a published photograph of a brightly colored frog from the Peruvian rainforest near the Ecuadorian border.

From Science Daily

They can pay extra for power windows, speakers, colored wrap or paint.

From Los Angeles Times

Its nine brilliantly colored and richly gilded panels, each measuring about 39 by 36 inches, illustrate essential chapters of Christian faith.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s colored contacts and facial prosthetics, a protruding belly and at least an hour of makeup.

From Los Angeles Times

On the dance floor, colored lights flashed across Lopez’s visage as he tried to keep track of his room key.

From Los Angeles Times