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Definition of watercolor

watercolor

/ˈwɔː.tərˌkʌl.ɚ/
(UK: watercolour)
wa · ter · col · or
Plural:watercolors
•
Adjective:watercolor
•
Past Simple:watercolored
•
Past Participle:watercolored
•
Present Participle:watercoloring
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watercolor Lexical Profile

watercolor Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A painting method in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution.

Example

"She has been practicing watercolor for years, mastering the delicate balance of pigment and moisture."

2

American A painting produced using water-soluble pigments.

Example

"The gallery featured a beautiful watercolor of the local coastline."

3

American The pigment or paint used in watercolor painting.

Example

"Make sure to rinse your brushes thoroughly before dipping them into a different watercolor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for watercolor

• verb

1

American To paint or color a picture, surface, or design using water-soluble pigments.

Example

"She plans to watercolor the entire sketch before the afternoon light fades."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for watercolor

Word Nuance & Usage

"Watercolor" is the standard spelling in American English, whereas "watercolour" is preferred in British, Canadian, and Australian English.

• Nearby Words

waterbuck
waterbury
waterbus
watercolor
watercolorist
watercooler
watercourse

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the mid-16th century. Formed by combining "water" and "color" to distinguish this water-based medium from traditional oil paints.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Watercolor. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/watercolor
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