watercolor

noun

wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkə-lər 

ˈwä-

1

: a paint of which the liquid is a water dispersion of the binding material (such as glue, casein, or gum)

2

: the art or method of painting with watercolors

3

: a picture or design executed in watercolors

watercolor adjective

watercolorist

ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkə-lə-rist 

ˈwä-

noun

Examples of watercolor in a Sentence

a landscape done in watercolor

He only works in watercolors.

We bought a watercolor of the shore.

Recent Examples on the Web

Imagine the brown and black watercolor seen on the outside of certain sunglasses, but on the ends of nails. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2025

Bring your own artwork and supplies (acrylic, oil, or watercolor) to work with Alex and fellow artists. —Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

Each bottle in the Artist Series Collection showcases one of five bespoke watercolor illustrations by Bowers, capturing the spirit that make Heaven Hill Distillery unique. —Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2025

Squeeze the liquid blush out of the dropper, and blend it easily over cheeks for a watercolor-like flush. —Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for watercolor

• multicolor
• technicolor
• unicolor
• versicolor
• bicolor
• concolor
• discolor
• tricolor
• color
• colour
• culler
• duller

Kids Definition

watercolor

noun

wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯt-ər-ˌkəl-ər 

ˈwät-

1

: a paint whose liquid part is water

2

: a picture painted with watercolor

3

: the art of painting with watercolor

watercolorist

-ˌkəl-ə-rəst 

noun