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

“Even though I was a person of color, at a time segregation was going on, I never put barriers or lines around what I wanted to do,” Hord told Footwear News.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

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 crew comprises the first woman, the first person of color and the first non-American to take part in such a journey.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

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