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:
Nail discoloration showed an especially large difference, affecting 46% of users versus 17% of nonusers.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 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 result can be swelling, bruising, bleeding, blisters and discoloration of the skin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 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
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
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
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
The specimens they studied were stiff, with dark discolorations of dead tissue.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 10, 2022
Look for discolorations, dye spots, streaks, holes or yarn flaws.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2019
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.
