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

There is a possibility California could make history: The state has never has elected a woman as governor, and only once has a person of color held the office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 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

Glover was the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Koch was the first woman, and Canadian Hansen the first non-American.

From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 2026

Any person of color recognized his Ethiopian heritage immediately.

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