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Colored Very Common

Colored has 8 different meanings across 1 category:

Adjective

Definitions
Noun
1

A colored (nonwhite) person.

"The community center hired a new director who was respected by all, especially by the younger colored children in the neighborhood."

In plain English: A colored is an old-fashioned and offensive term used to refer to a person who is not white.

"The colored added a vibrant touch to the painting."

Usage: The term "colored" as a noun referring to nonwhite people is considered outdated and offensive in modern English. Use "Black," "African American," or other specific ethnic identifiers instead.

Verb
1

simple past tense and past participle of color

"She colored her hair blue last week to match her new outfit."

In plain English: To color something means to give it a specific hue or paint it with a particular shade.

"The sunset was colored with shades of orange and pink."

Usage: Use the spelled-out form "colored" when referring to dyeing or painting something in a specific hue. This version is preferred in formal writing to avoid confusion with the adjective describing race.

Adjective
1

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

"colored crepe paper"

"the film was in color"

"amber-colored heads of grain"

2

having skin rich in melanin pigments;

"After years of living in the Caribbean, she returned to her family's home where everyone is colored and shares a deep bond over their shared heritage."

3

favoring one person or side over another

"a biased account of the trial"

"a decision that was partial to the defendant"

4

(used of color) artificially produced; not natural

"a bleached blonde"

5

Having a color.

6

Alternative letter-case form of colored

In plain English: Colored is an outdated and offensive term used to describe people with dark skin, which should never be used today.

"The girl wore a brightly colored dress to the party."

Usage: Use "colored" as an adjective to describe objects or people with non-white skin tones in contexts that prioritize inclusivity and respect. Avoid using it to refer to race when the term "Black," "White," or specific ethnic identifiers are more precise and preferred.

Example Sentences
"The girl wore a brightly colored dress to the party." adj
"The colored added a vibrant touch to the painting." noun
"The sunset was colored with shades of orange and pink." verb
Related Terms
Antonyms

Origin

The word colored is formed by adding the suffix -ed to the noun color. It functions as a standard adjective describing something that possesses hue or pigmentation.

Rhyming Words
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