pigment

1 of 2

noun

pig·​ment ˈpig-mənt How to pronounce pigment (audio)
1
: a substance that imparts black or white or a color to other materials
especially : a powdered substance that is mixed with a liquid in which it is relatively insoluble and used especially to impart color to coating materials (such as paints) or to inks, plastics, and rubber
2
: a coloring matter in animals and plants especially in a cell or tissue
also : any of various related colorless substances
pigmentary adjective

pigment

2 of 2

verb

pig·​ment ˈpig-ˌment How to pronounce pigment (audio)
-mənt
pigmented; pigmenting; pigments

transitive verb

: to color with or as if with pigment

Examples of pigment in a Sentence

Noun Chlorophyll is a group of green pigments. Melanin is a pigment that gives color to skin and fur. Albinos lack normal skin pigment. Pigments are used to give color to paint, ink, and plastic. Red pigment is mixed into the ink.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The best powder foundations work with your complexion instead of trying to camouflage it with heavy pigments. Clare Holden, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 Five artifacts in particular caught their attention, though, for what still lingered atop them: traces of ocher, an orange-brown earth pigment, and bitumen, a substance that occurs naturally in soil but today is also produced from crude oil. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 Even though their colors don’t change over time, these animals’ bright blues and greens are also formed by structural changes and not by more conventional pigments. Eva Amsen, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Not sticky, perfect pigment, and great color assortment. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024 In response to this injury, your body will try to heal the wound by releasing melanin (molecules responsible for skin pigment), potentially resulting in hyperpigmentation (a.k.a. dark spots), Dr. Turegano explains. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 10 Jan. 2024 So does melanin, the pigment that helps determine skin, hair and eye color. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 The masks, manufactured by artisans in workshops, would not have come cheap; the pigments and labor were costly. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024 Red pigments called anthocyanins are the most common in nature and changes to the acidity in the pigment changes the color. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Feb. 2024
Verb
And plastics are also endangering life ashore by leaching toxic chemicals like flame retardants, plasticizers, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, and pigments into soil and freshwater. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024 These shimmery options can be just as pigmented and blinding as their powdery counterparts, all while being extremely easy to build and blend with the rest of your complexion essentials. Denise Primbet, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2024 Unlike Brooks, who’s lip color was more pigmented to represent Sofia’s personality, Fantasia’s character was more demure at the start of the film. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 4 Jan. 2024 This rich and creamy eyebrow pencil comes highly pigmented in 12 different shades, including a couple of options for red hair as well as a taupe hue for gray hair. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 On the other hand, liquid lipstick lasts longer, does not require a liner, and is highly pigmented. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 7 Dec. 2023 Sigma's lip cream provides a glossy finish that's pigmented and buildable, while UD's Vice lipstick has been a fan-favorite since 2016 for its long-lasting formula and color. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 11 Oct. 2023 Shimmering pastels are pigmented from the shades of Earth’s metals; the slow patina of aging copper and the delicate gleam of alloyed steel. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 9 Aug. 2023 An effective dark-circle concealer is one that’s pigmented enough to hide the bluish shadows but lightweight enough to not look caked on. Rebecca Norris, Peoplemag, 14 June 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, spice, dye, from Latin pigmentum coloring substance, from pingere to paint — more at paint

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pigment was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pigment

Cite this Entry

“Pigment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pigment. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pigment

noun
pig·​ment
ˈpig-mənt
1
: a substance that gives color to other materials
especially : a powder mixed with a liquid to give color
2
: a natural coloring matter in animals and plants
pigmented
-mənt-əd
-ˌment-
adjective

Medical Definition

pigment

noun
pig·​ment ˈpig-mənt How to pronounce pigment (audio)
: a coloring matter in animals and plants especially in a cell or tissue
also : any of various related colorless substances

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