Usage of Colored
The adjective meanings of colored relating to race were formerly in common and widespread use well into the 20th century. Attitudes toward them had changed, however, by the 1960s. Although colored is still occasionally used in self-reference by and between Black people, the adjective as used by others is offensive; the terms Black and African American are preferred. Colored remains in the full name of the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), a civil rights organization founded in the early 20th century.
Usage of Colored
The noun colored was formerly in common and widespread use well into the 20th century, although attitudes toward it had changed by the 1960s. In most nonhistorical contexts, this use of colored is now considered unacceptable.
Examples of colored in a Sentence
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
Kick your shower tile up a notch and have fun with a colored grout that contrasts with your tile color.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Photos released by the CHP show a dark-colored sedan on its roof with the engine block torn free and debris scattered across the southbound roadway as emergency vehicles blocked traffic.
—Darrell Smith
updated February 20, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
At the Portland meetup, sketchers were gathered in little clusters around the train station, capturing its red bricks and tall clock tower with watercolors, or pen and ink, or colored pencils.
—Deena Prichep, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
The individuals allegedly involved were wearing masks, hooded sweatshirts and dark-colored clothing, according to police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
Honeysuckle is a multi-stem plant with light-colored bark and dark vertical stripes.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 19 Feb. 2026
Multi-colored or dimensional shingles add depth and a more natural appearance, often elevating the home’s character.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
But the most eye-catching elements are the flocks of colored blobby shapes that appear to dart back and forth across their surfaces, like jellyfish swimming back and forth.
—Benjamin Lima, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colored.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colored. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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