colorant

noun

col·​or·​ant ˈkə-lə-rənt How to pronounce colorant (audio)
-lər-ənt
: a substance used for coloring a material : dye, pigment

Examples of colorant in a Sentence

in ancient times, a mollusk was used to produce a rich purple colorant for clothing and linens
Recent Examples on the Web This supplement is gluten-free, dairy and soy-free, non-GMO, and free of colorants and synthetic fillers. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 One of the colorants, red 40 lake, is generally considered safe to use, although research on its consumption during pregnancy is limited. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 When the colorant was first approved for use in food in 1907, there was little research on its effects. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 9 Feb. 2024 Reproducing this colorant in the lab could pave the way for new methods of creating pigments. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Feb. 2024 The shampoo also utilizes 100 percent natural colorants and is enriched with Alpha Keratin 60ku® protein to strengthen and repair strands. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 18 Jan. 2024 This particular bag of candy comes from the European Union — a place that already bans a number of chemical additives and colorants. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 10 Oct. 2023 For more than 30 years, a food additive called Red Dye No. 3, a colorant used in food and medicine products, has been under close scrutiny, and now, the state of California became the first to ban it. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2023 The colorant is already banned in other countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and those in the European Union. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'colorant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of colorant was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near colorant

Cite this Entry

“Colorant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorant. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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