colorant

noun

col·​or·​ant ˈkə-lə-rənt How to pronounce colorant (audio)
-lər-ənt
: a substance used for coloring a material : dye, pigment

Examples of colorant in a Sentence

in ancient times, a mollusk was used to produce a rich purple colorant for clothing and linens
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.
It is already widely used as a blue food colorant in Asia, but it is not yet authorized in the U.S.9 Butterfly pea flower extract. Jamie Ducharme, Health, 30 Apr. 2025 Their removal from products reflects growing concerns over the health risks associated with artificial colorants. Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025 Manufacturers that use this dye, which the FDA noted isn’t as widely used as other colorants, have until 2027 and 2028 to update their foods and ingested drugs, respectively. Joseph Choi, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025 But backlash against artificial colorants has been brewing in the U.S. for more than a decade. Amelia Lucas,annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for colorant

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of colorant was in 1800

Cite this Entry

“Colorant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorant. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on colorant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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