chroma

noun

chro·​ma ˈkrō-mə How to pronounce chroma (audio)
1
2
: a quality of color combining hue and saturation

Examples of chroma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Knowing elements like hue, value, chroma, and whether a color is warm or cool can all guide you towards picking hues that feel good in your space. Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025 The hunter green of the 1980s is back—but with a little less chroma. Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025 The nuances are detailed in long blog posts filled with pictures of color wheels and terms such as chroma. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2024 Saturation, or chroma, refers to the level of intensity or brilliance of a color. Kate Reggev, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2024 Colors have properties like luminance, chroma and saturation, all of which affect their appearance. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek chrôma "color" — more at -chrome

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chroma was circa 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Chroma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chroma. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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