coloration

noun

col·​or·​a·​tion ˌkə-lə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the state of having color

the dark coloration of his skin

b

: use or choice of colors (as by an artist)

c

: arrangement of colors

the coloration of a butterfly's wing

2

a

: characteristic quality

the newspapers … took on the former coloration of the magazine

—L. B. Seltzer

b

: aspect suggesting an attitude

the chameleon talent for taking on the intellectual coloration of whatever idea he happened to fasten onto

—Budd Schulberg

3

: subtle variation of intensity or quality of tone

a wide range of coloration from the orchestra

Examples of coloration in a Sentence

the coloration of a flower

the bright yellow coloration of the curtains

wine glasses with circle designs and blue and green colorations

He attempted to give a religious coloration to the war.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two things can be responsible for this unusual coloration, according to wildlife officials. —Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024

Here’s a quick way to distinguish the two species: the redear’s dark ear flap includes a red border, and the sides have more of a golden, often speckled, coloration with vertical banding much fainter than that of a bluegill. —David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 11 Jan. 2024

In these cases, they’re known as mother-of-pearl clouds, on account of their wild coloration: swirls of purple, teal, and yellow. —Matt Simon, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2023

Females are typically slightly larger than male turkey vultures, but coloration is the same in adult birds. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Dec. 2023

Tissues preserved in rock can reveal information like the anatomy of the reptile, its physiology, and its skin coloration. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024

The discs were painted with anemonefish coloration and measured the level of aggression towards these fish dupes. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 Feb. 2024

Hens of both lesser and greater will range in coloration from brown to grayish-brown, with the same wide, heavy bill and a white facial patch at the base. —M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 8 Feb. 2024

Bluegill, on the other hand, have a duller blue, solid coloration near the bottom of the gill plate. —Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin colōrātiōn-, colōrātiō, from Latin colōrāre "to color entry 2" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing coloration

• warning coloration

Kids Definition

coloration

noun

col·​or·​ation

ˌkəl-ə-ˈrā-shən

1

: use or arrangement of colors or shades : coloring

study the coloration of a flower

2

: the state of having color