discolor

American  

[dis-kuhl-er] / dɪsˈkʌl ər /

verb (used with object)

1. to change or spoil the color of; fade or stain.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to change color; become faded or stained.

Other Word Forms

• undiscolored
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of discolor

1350–1400; Middle English discolouren < Old French descolorer < Late Latin discolorārī to change color, derivative of Latin discolor of another color. See dis- ¹, color

Explanation

If you wash your favorite white shirt with a brand new, bright red towel, your shirt is probably going to discolor, or change color from white to pink. Use the verb discolor when something fades or alters in color. Your teeth might discolor from drinking too much black tea, and you might notice your beach towel discoloring after a summer spent at the seaside. The word discolor has been in use since the fourteenth century, and it comes from the Old French descolorer, with colorer meaning "to color."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

discolor

Some vitamins, such as folic acid, can discolor urine and lead to inaccurate results.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025

And because our enamel wears down and our teeth discolor over time, they also telegraph youth.

From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2023

As she “gets sciency,” she discussed the use of clear hangers made of a proprietary blend that doesn’t release gasses that could discolor a garment or leach chemicals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2023

Most lawn diseases do not kill the turf but rather only discolor the leaves.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 22, 2023

Variation.—Data on the syntypes of Leptodeira discolor furnished by J. C. Battersby give some indication of the variation in the species.

From Systematic Status of the Colubrid Snake, Leptodeira discolor Gunther by Duellman, William E.

Related Words

• defile
• rust
• sully