beige
Americannoun
adjective
noun
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a very light brown, sometimes with a yellowish tinge, similar to the colour of undyed wool
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( as adjective )
beige gloves
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a fabric made of undyed or unbleached wool
Etymology
Origin of beige
1855–60; < French; Old French bege, of uncertain origin
Explanation
Beige is a tan color with a reputation for being neutral, if not boring. Khaki pants and coffee with lots of cream might be beige. Beige does not sound the way it looks. The "ei" is pronounced like a long "a" (as in "cake") and the "g" is a soft "zh" sound. This is because beige comes straight out of French, where it originally meant a fabric of the color we now know as beige. See? Beige has some interesting qualities for such a boring color.
Vocabulary lists containing beige
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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.
Its stores are decorated with cream and beige color schemes, tiled floors, archways, wood fixtures and soft lighting, making them feel like expensive boutiques.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Wearing a beige prison outfit, Mangione appeared solemn and serious throughout the hearing.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Dressed in a beige suit and a silk scarf, Bin Hassan spoke to AFP at the Memphis Islamic Center as it hosted a candidate forum, during which voters could also learn about the new districts.
From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026
In New York, the beige book survey reported, the supply of affordable housing is critically below demand, with multiyear waiting lists and stalled projects.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
It was a tailored tie-silk dressing gown, beige, with a pretty pattern of minute pink tea roses.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
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.
