grey
adjective
a variant of gray.
grey
1 American
[gray]
/ greɪ /
adjective
greyer,
greyest
Grey
2
American
[gray]
/ greɪ /
noun
-
Charles, 2nd Earl, 1764–1845, British statesman: prime minister 1830–34.
-
Sir Edward Viscount Fallodon, 1862–1933, British statesman.
-
Sir George, 1812–98, British statesman and colonial administrator: prime minister of New Zealand 1877–79.
-
Lady Jane Lady Jane Dudley, 1537–54, descendant of Henry VII of England; executed under orders of Mary I to eliminate her as a rival for the throne.
-
Zane 1875–1939, U.S. novelist.
grey
1
British
/ ɡreɪ /
adjective
-
of a neutral tone, intermediate between black and white, that has no hue and reflects and transmits only a little light
-
greyish in colour or having parts or marks that are greyish
-
dismal or dark, esp from lack of light; gloomy
-
neutral or dull, esp in character or opinion
-
having grey hair
-
of or relating to people of middle age or above
grey power
-
ancient; venerable
-
(of textiles) natural, unbleached, undyed, and untreated
noun
-
any of a group of grey tones
-
grey cloth or clothing
dressed in grey
-
an animal, esp a horse, that is grey or whitish
verb
Grey
2
British
/ ɡreɪ /
noun
-
Charles, 2nd Earl Grey. 1764–1845, British statesman. As Whig prime minister (1830–34), he carried the Reform Bill of 1832 and the bill for the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire (1833)
-
Sir Edward, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon. 1862–1933, British statesman; foreign secretary (1905–16)
-
Sir George. 1812–98, British statesman and colonial administrator; prime minister of New Zealand (1877–79)
-
Lady Jane. 1537–54, queen of England (July 9–19, 1553); great-granddaughter of Henry VII. Her father-in-law, the Duke of Northumberland, persuaded Edward VI to alter the succession in her favour, but after ten days as queen she was imprisoned and later executed
-
Zane. 1875–1939, US author of Westerns, including Riders of the Purple Sage (1912)
grey
Idioms
Usage
What’s the difference between grey and gray? Grey and gray are simply different spellings of the same word, which refers to the color halfway between black and white (among other more figurative meanings). In popular use, the two spellings are used interchangeably, though one spelling is often preferred in many places. The spelling grey is more common in British English, while gray is much more common in American English. Remember: spell gray with an a in America, and spell grey with an e in England (among other places). Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between grey and gray.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of grey
Old English grǣg; related to Old High German grāo, Old Norse grar
Explanation
Grey is an alternate spelling for the word gray, which is a color derived from mixing white and black. The word has also come to stand in for other mixtures as well. A person in a grey mood feels gloomy. If you are commanding a military force and you’re not sure whether you should attack a crowd that is half enemy fighters and half innocent citizens, you could say the decision falls in a grey zone. Grey can be a verb too. When you get old, your hair will grey if you don’t go bald first.
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:
With a thick beard and wearing a grey sweatshirt and trousers, he spoke only to confirm his address in Rotherham and his date of birth.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Lancaster University's Karen Broadhurst says the reduction in support means that more of the "grey area" cases happen.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
He appeared at Margate Magistrates' Court on Friday via videolink wearing a grey T-shirt and rosary beads.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Higher whole grain intake was associated with several unfavorable structural changes, including faster losses of grey matter and hippocampal volume, as well as faster ventricular enlargement.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
Following his directions, they’d left the ‘stream at the foot of the stony grey hill’, and were climbing the trail that snaked towards the top.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
In general, confidence around sodium ion batteries' reliability has increased during the last few years, says Prof Dame Grey, meaning they are now finding their way into grid storage applications.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
The enduring myth of the tower as a site of cruel torments has a lot to do with Ainsworth’s melodramatic novel, which adapts the true story of Lady Jane Grey, the “nine days queen.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Macklemore focused on his solo work, including collaborations with Kesha, Lil Yachty and Skylar Grey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
The “Lover” singer is known to have a very soft spot for her own pets: three cats, named Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 7, 2026
Elizabeth pushes her glasses back up her nose and says, “Only problem is, they don’t sell Earl Grey ice cream in any store I’ve seen. We need to make it ourselves.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
Thirteen years since leaving the Bernabeu Stadium, he is older, greyer, and perhaps a little wiser.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Forever captured on film and in photographs as young and fresh-faced, it’s startling to see that their hair is sparser or greyer or both.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2020
The initial earthy tones in brown, dark blue and greyer lightened to paler blues seen on suits, waistcoats and sleeveless tops, and the collection ended in light pink and gray shimmering evening wear.
From Reuters ● Sep. 21, 2019
Our blue and green world is becoming greyer by the second.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 25, 2019
Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever, except for being a little greyer about the muzzle, and, since Boxer’s death, more morose and taciturn than ever.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
Colombo awoke to its greyest sky of the week come Sunday morning.
From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2026
How and when to count commercial income is already one of the greyest of grey areas in accounting.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 29, 2014
Dublin was at its wettest and greyest, while south-west London last Saturday felt like Siberia.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 26, 2013
He was the greyest of grey eminences, a wraith who flickered into occasional visibility in Mexico, Paris or Tangier.
From Time Magazine Archive
The fattest, greyest officers dressed most, and ambled statelily along, with orderlies behind, trying to look as if they didn't know the stout party in front, and doing much caracoling on their own account.
From Hospital Sketches by Louisa May Alcott
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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.
