person of color

American  

[pur-suhn uhv kuhl-er] / ˈpɜr sən əv ˈkʌl ər /

noun

people of color, plural persons of color plural

1. a person who is not white.

   The corporation was especially eager to recruit women and people of color.

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person of color Idioms  

1. A nonwhite person, such as someone of African or Native American descent. For example, They have made a genuine effort to promote persons of color to executive positions. This seemingly modern euphemism actually dates from the late 1700s and was revived in the late 1900s.

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Sensitive Note

See Black ¹.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• people of color
  plural
• persons of color
  plural

Etymology

Origin of person of color

First recorded in 1785–90

Example Sentences

He was the wealthiest person ever to hold that office, as well as the first person of color.

From Salon • Jun. 24, 2026

The result of these two efforts is why today about a quarter of Congress is represented by a person of color, but it is especially thanks to Section 2.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

The journey marks a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of color, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

The National Theatre is among the cultural treasures of the U.K., so it is history-making that the institution is now headed by Indhu Rubasingham, the first woman and person of color in charge.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

In 1962, when I had attended the mostly white San Francisco State University for two years, I found myself living among an enclave of students where I was the only person of color.

From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals