sepia

1 of 2

noun

se·​pia ˈsē-pē-ə 

1

a

: a brown melanin-containing pigment from the ink of cuttlefishes

b

: the inky secretion of a cuttlefish

2

: a print or photograph of a brown color resembling sepia

3

: a brownish-gray to dark olive-brown color

sepia

2 of 2

adjective

1

: made of or done in sepia

2

: of the color sepia

Examples of sepia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some parts of the film are displayed in a light shade (similar to sepia, just multi-light colored). — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 June 2026

Pink wore a long white halter neck dress with sepia tapestry print and burnt orange floral detail. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026

Adjective

All the group has to go on is an old, wallet-sized sepia photograph. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2019

The sepia fog turned to bright colors and deep shadows in the late-afternoon sun. — Robert Gauthierstaff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, cuttlefish, ink, from Greek sēpia

First Known Use

Noun

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sepia

1 of 2 noun

se·​pia ˈsē-pē-ə 

1

: a brown pigment made from the ink of cuttlefishes

2

: a brownish gray

sepia

2 of 2 adjective

: of the color sepia

Medical Definition

sepia

noun

se·​pia ˈsē-pē-ə 

1

capitalized : a genus (the type of the family Sepiidae) of oval-bodied cephalopods that comprise the cuttlefishes and have a saclike organ containing a dark fluid and an internal shell mostly of calcium carbonate which has been used as an antacid and in tooth and polishing powders

2

: the inky secretion of a cuttlefish or a brown pigment from it