adjective
colored
KUH-luhrd
adjective
1
Having a particular color, especially a color other than plain black, white, or gray.
"The kids picked out colored pencils for their art project."
2
An outdated and now offensive term historically used to describe Black people or people of color in the US.
"The term "colored" appears in old civil-rights-era signage and is now considered offensive."
How to Use Colored
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something with color — but be careful, as a label for people it is an outdated and offensive term in most English-speaking countries today.
When to use it
As a description of race, "colored" is dated and offensive in the US and UK; it survives as a distinct, non-offensive term in South Africa referring to a specific mixed-race community.
UK vs US
American spelling; British English uses "coloured."
Easily confused with
Word Forms
more colored comparative, coloreds plural, most colored superlative
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Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids picked out _____ pencils for their art project.