secondary color

American  

noun

Art.

1. a color, as orange, green, or violet, produced by mixing two primary colors.

---

secondary color Scientific  

1. A color produced by mixing two additive primary colors in equal proportions. The secondary colors are cyan (a mixture of blue and green), magenta (a mixture of blue and red), and yellow (a mixture of green and red). Each secondary color is also the complementary color (or complement) of the primary color whose wavelength it does not contain. Thus cyan is the complement of red, magenta is the complement of green, and yellow is the complement of blue.

2. See Note at color

---

Etymology

Origin of secondary color

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Colorado, a state whose shape is a simple rectangle, flipped from George W. Bush in 2004, while the secondary color of Davis’ choice of purple paint was created by combining two primary pigments — red and blue.

From Los Angeles Times

To be fair, the Mariners would point out that their secondary color to navy blue has always been Northwest green, not teal, but the point, or in this case the punchline, still stands.

From Seattle Times

The Redskins are famously burgundy and gold, the Capitals tell their fans to “rock the red,” the Wizards use it as a secondary color, and the Mystics and Nationals generally wear a red-based uniform.

From Washington Times

Perhaps given his expanded role as the secondary color commentator for Phillies games on SportsRadio 94 WIP this season, Frandsen was hesitant to mention Harper by name when broaching the subject of the outfielder’s impending decision.

From Washington Post

The team’s official colors are gold and white, but blue is a secondary color normally reserved for trim.

From Washington Times