off-color

especially British, off-col·our
Also off-col·ored

[awf-kuhl-er, of-]

adjective

1. not having the usual or standard color.

   an off-color gem.

2. of doubtful propriety or taste; risqué.

   an off-color joke.

   Synonyms: blue, earthy, salty, spicy, racy

3. not in one's usual health.

   to feel off-color.

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-color¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

I was so jittery I got plastered on red wine, then unwittingly insulted her with an off-color joke, almost blowing our relationship before it started.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The humor, at once simple and clever, innocent and off-color, amiably wants to get a rise, and Horn isn’t too proud to go low in his genial wordplay.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Part off-color drag act, part Carol Burnett-style sketch comedy, the show has survived on its bountiful comedic wits to become one of the hottest Broadway tickets of the year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In fact, the only stumble Glaser took would be her off-color handful of jokes about the allegations surrounding Diddy.

Read more on Salon

The race, which pitted a brazenly off-color indie-spirited musical with puppets against a commercial juggernaut from Oz, culminated in a collective gasp when the envelope was read.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• racy 
• salty 
• suggestive 
• vulgar