discoloration
Americannoun
-
discolorations
plural
-
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.
See Examples For:
Aguh said they are suited only for mild forms of acne; Fine said the patches have given some of her patients discoloration and she doesn’t recommend them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
In .35% of patients, the injections can cause skin necrosis, the death of cells and body tissues, symptoms of which include pain, discoloration and loss of sensitivity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
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
It could not be toxic, enter the bloodstream, or cause discoloration of teeth.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026
The discoloration was back—a grime-gray streak across his palm where he’d clutched the slender shard.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Among the results, the trial revealed no signs of dangerous side effects such as heart problems, allergic reactions, or concerning skin discolorations.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2023
Solar flares come from sunspots, or bruiselike discolorations on the surface of the sun that pulsate with energy.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 12, 2023
Prof Kinsey told the court the skin discolorations observed on Child A had "cemented" her concerns that he had suffered an air embolus.
From BBC ● Nov. 29, 2022
All of them can infect cucurbits and lead to discolorations as well as unsightly bumps.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2022
Stacks of bunk beds, a chalkboard, bright blue cabinets that stretched from floor to ceiling, large windows boarded up with plywood, and strange square discolorations on the wall, where posters must have once hung.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
