colored

IPA/ˈkʌləd/
KK[kˈʌlɚd]IPA/ˈkʌlərd/

colored — adjective

  • coloredpositive
  • more coloredcomparative
  • most coloredsuperlative

1. the US spelling of 'coloured', used in American English for any meaning that in

1.adjectiveA1
Definition

the US spelling of 'coloured', used in American English for any meaning that in British English is spelled with a 'u'.

Example

Iris switched her laptop's spell-check to US English, and it changed every 'coloured' in her report to 'colored'.

contrast: 'coloured' changed to 'colored' via spell-check

Ezra noticed that his British textbook used 'coloured' while his US workbook used 'colored'.

Usage Note

This entry covers the US spelling. For the full treatment of meanings, see the senses below — they apply to both spellings.

2. with color present in the object or material, rather than being plain, white, bl

2.adjectiveA2
Definition

with color present in the object or material, rather than being plain, white, black, or all the same shade.

Example

For Lunar New Year, Yuna cut bright colored paper into lanterns and hung them across the classroom.

collocation: colored paper / colored pencils / colored glass

Nia bought a box of colored pencils to use in her art class.

Common collocations
  • colored paper
  • colored pencils
  • colored glass
  • colored lights
  • brightly colored
Synonyms
  • colorful

    emphasizes many bright colors rather than having a single color

  • dyed

    specifically describes fabric or hair that has been treated with dye

Antonyms
  • colorless

    having no color at all; transparent or plain

Grammar Patterns

colored + noun

be + colored

Usage Note

In everyday speech, 'colored' as a simple adjective ('a colored shirt') is less common than specifying the actual color ('a red shirt'). The word appears most often in fixed phrases like 'colored pencils', 'colored paper', or 'colored glass'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a colored car.
I bought a blue car.
native speakers usually name the specific color rather than saying 'colored'.

3. influenced by personal feelings or opinions so that the description or account o

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

influenced by personal feelings or opinions so that the description or account of something is not fair, accurate, or objective.

Example

The journalist's report was colored by her strong political views.

pattern: colored by [personal views/opinions]

Tanya's diary entries from the 1980s were colored by the political tensions her family never discussed openly.

pattern: colored by [personal experience / historical context]

Common collocations
  • colored by
  • colored account
  • colored view
  • colored version
Synonyms
  • biased

    more direct and common than 'colored' in everyday use

  • slanted

    implies deliberate distortion toward a particular viewpoint

  • distorted

    suggests the truth has been twisted out of shape

Antonyms
  • objective

    not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; based on facts

  • unbiased

    fair and impartial in presenting information

Grammar Patterns

colored by + noun

be + colored

Usage Note

This sense is most common in the passive form 'colored by' followed by a noun that names the source of bias (feelings, experiences, politics). It is less common as a simple attributive adjective ('a colored account') in modern English.

Common Mistakes

The data was colored because the scientist was tired.
The data was colored by the scientist's preference for a certain outcome.
the bias must be caused by a specific factor, not a general state.

4. aimed at people whose ethnic background is not white European or who come from p

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

aimed at people whose ethnic background is not white European or who come from parents of different races — a dated label now considered highly insulting.

Example

A 1917 paper called Black soldiers 'colored troops,' so Asher explained to the class why the word is now offensive.

historical context: 'colored troops' in early 20th-century documents

Ravindra explained to his class that 'colored' was once used as a racial label but is now hurtful.

Usage Note

This sense is deeply offensive to many people. Do not use it to describe someone's race or ethnicity. Preferred modern terms include the specific nationality or ethnicity of the person, or broader respectful terms such as 'people of color' (which is distinct from the dated adjective 'colored').

Common Mistakes

She is a colored woman.
She is a Black woman / a woman of color.
'colored' as a racial descriptor is outdated and offensive; use the person's specific ethnicity or 'person of color' instead.

colored — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

'Colored' simply means having a color or colors, without implying any particular quality ('colored pencils', 'colored glass'). 'Colorful' suggests many bright or varied colors and often carries a positive, lively tone ('a colorful painting', 'a colorful parade'). 'Dyed' refers specifically to fabric, hair, or other materials that have been artificially colored with dye ('dyed hair', 'dyed fabric'). 'Bright' is an intensifier that describes high saturation or vividness ('bright red', 'bright colors'). Use 'colored' for neutral descriptions where the presence of color is the main point; use 'colorful' when you want to emphasize visual richness or variety.

colored ↗colorful ↗dyed ↗bright ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • colored paper
  • colored pencils
  • colored glass
  • colored lights
  • colored ink

Adverbs

  • brightly colored
  • richly colored
  • vividly colored
  • specially colored
  • hand-colored

Phrases

  • a colored version of events
  • colored with emotion

Prepositions

  • colored by

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Derived from Middle English 'coloured', past participle of 'colouren' (to color), which comes from Old French 'colorer', from Latin 'colorare' (to give color to), from 'color' (color). The word entered English in the 14th century. The US spelling without 'u' became standard in American English following Noah Webster's reforms in the early 19th century. The figurative sense showing bias dates from the 15th century. The racial usage appeared in the late 1700s and became common in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun