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

Merrill had also been selling prints of her watercolor paintings on Etsy, and as her YouTube following grew, so did her number of orders. —Gili Malinsky tasia Jensen, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026

Two standouts include the vibrant three-panel watercolor on silk of her palace in the lobby and the pink-and-gold, four-panel ombré wall art at reception, made of ceramic tiles from the beloved Bát Tràng Pottery Village. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026

These are Grace’s own watercolor paintings, self-reflective and complex, much like her latest EP, Heavy Hair. —Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 14 Apr. 2026

My friend Sarah became a wonderful knitter, her sister mastered watercolors, and the Best Friend would not give it a rest about composting. —Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026

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