grey
adjective
a variant of gray.
grey
1 American
[grey]
/ greɪ /
adjective
greyer,
greyest
Grey
2
American
[grey]
/ 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:
One visible example was that older animals developed fewer grey hairs.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
An AFP correspondent in Ansar saw a destroyed building as rescuers working to remove human remains from the rubble, and a swimming pool clouded and grey from dust and debris.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
But Count Binface, who dresses with a grey dustbin over his head wearing a cape and silver armour, could snatch a fifth of the votes, according to a Survation poll.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
I had expected a prison van but instead a small, grey Hyundai i30 hatchback drove past us at speed and into the secure compound behind a security gate and barbed wire perimeter.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
The man in the grey suit stands, brushing invisible dust from his sleeve.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige capped off his portion of the presentation by formally introducing Sadie Sink, whose role in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” had been kept under wraps before its release, as Jean Grey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
Grey matter contains many of the brain cells involved in memory, decision-making, movement, and other essential functions.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
Queen Elizabeth II's sister Princess Margaret also made a cameo in 1984, when she was a surprise guest at a fundraising fashion show for the NSPCC, in the ballroom of Ambridge's local hotel Grey Gables.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
When Travis Kelce said “I do” to Taylor Swift, he was also committing to her three cats: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
It was these records that brought the Grey Pilgrim to us.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
The UK appears greyer and less free in contrast.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2022
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
"I'm getting out of here," the father said, greyer than ever now.
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
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
By last week talk of a downturn in European business, hushed when Europe's boom refused to bust even during the U.S.'s greyest months, broke out in loud tones.
From Time Magazine Archive
You will see nothing but a line of stunted trees, and behind, miles of marshes and the greyest sea which ever played upon the land.
From Jeanne of the Marshes by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
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.
