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

See Examples For:

person of color

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 odyssey will mark a series of firsts: the first time a woman, a person of color and a non-American will venture on a Moon mission.

From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 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

Any person of color recognized his Ethiopian heritage immediately.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead