discoloration
Americannoun
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the act or fact of discoloring or the state of being discolored.
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a discolored marking or area; stain.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
It could not be toxic, enter the bloodstream, or cause discoloration of teeth.
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 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
In those cases, shoppers may be put off by odd shapes or discoloration, despite the food being perfectly tasty and nutritious underneath.
From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024
Leung, the water quality director, said the discoloration was unrelated to lead.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2024
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
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.
