Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

protective coloration

American  

noun

  1. coloration or anything likened to it that eliminates or reduces visibility or conspicuousness.


protective coloration British  

noun

  1. the coloration of an animal that enables it to blend with its surroundings and therefore escape the attention of predators

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of protective coloration

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But even when the animals are in plain view, many have protective coloration, which acts as camouflage.

From Literature

It is a protective coloration children utilize for their safety.

From Literature

He is not convinced that protective coloration is the only survival advantage conferred by pigment-related genes like .

From Science Magazine

But how can this oversight on the part of an enemy so affect the bodies and through them the germ-cells of such individuals as to develop so high a degree of protective coloration?

From Project Gutenberg

We know that the variation in form and color has brought about the remarkable adaptations to surroundings which we call mimicry and protective coloration.

From Project Gutenberg