discoloration
Americannoun
-
the act or fact of discoloring or the state of being discolored.
-
a discolored marking or area; stain.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of discoloration
Explanation
A discoloration is a change in something's color, usually for the worse. A shirt fading is a type of discoloration. When the color of something gets dingier, duller, or faded, this process is called discoloration. Rust on a car is a type of discoloration. A coffee stain is a type of discoloration. If a person looks green because they're sick, that's a type of discoloration. Most things suffer discoloration over time, because everything ages and fades over time. If you wash a red t-shirt enough times, discoloration might eventually make it pink.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Park Police said grass samples have been collected for testing to determine what caused the discoloration of the lawn on the National Mall and the investigation is ongoing.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
However, these same reactions can also weaken enamel, making teeth more vulnerable to future discoloration and other issues.
From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026
One of the issues Dr Lee said the panel had found was that skin discoloration noted on some of the babies was, he claimed, wrongly attributed to air embolus by the prosecution.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2025
She calls out disjointed knees that were a consequence of her growing fetus, and skin discoloration on her upper lip resembling a mustache from afar.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2024
Mariama pointed at the smallest of the braiders, who had a skin condition, pinkish-cream whorls of discoloration on her arms and neck that looked worryingly infectious.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
