colored
Americanadjective
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having color.
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Older Use: Offensive. belonging wholly or in part to any group of nonwhite people, especially to Black people.
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Older Use: Offensive. pertaining to Black people.
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influenced or biased.
colored opinions.
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The authorities detected a colored quality in her statement.
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Botany. of some hue other than green.
noun
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Older Use: Offensive.
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a Black person.
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the colored, Black people as a group.
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Sensitive Note
See Black 1.
Usage
Spelling tips for colored The word colored is hard to spell for three reasons. First, it can be tempting to use a double l or double r. Second, in British English, the word is spelled with a u (colored), unlike in American English. Finally, the ending -ed is pronounced simply [ d ], so one may forget the e. How to spell colored: When it comes to color, keep it simple. You don't need any extra letters, like a double l, double r, or u. For adjectives like colored that end with the sound [ d ], remember that you will always need a little Extra (e) to get it Done, -ed.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of colored
A Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at color, -ed 3
Vocabulary lists containing colored
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.
These hairs resemble the fine, short, light colored vellus hairs that cover much of the human body, commonly known as peach fuzz.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
The library’s email was decorated with ice cream cones and colored letters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Then participants draw their individual targets on paper with colored markers that Fadel provides.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
The new naturally colored M&M’s lineup, minus blue and brown, will be available exclusively through Amazon.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
The brilliantly colored glass was cargo being carried by a two-masted Byzantine merchant ship around the year 1025.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
