coloring

noun

col·​or·​ing ˈkə-lə-riŋ 

1

a

: the act of applying colors

b

: something that produces color or color effects

c(1)

: the effect produced by applying or combining colors

(2)

: natural color

(3)

: complexion, coloration

d

: change of appearance (as by adding color)

2

: influence, bias

3

: color sense 8

4

: timbre, quality

Synonyms

• pigment
• dye
• color
• colorant
• stain

Examples of coloring in a Sentence

Her favorite activities include playing with stuffed animals and coloring.

Our product contains no artificial coloring or flavoring.

She added some blue food coloring to the icing.

This scarf will look great with your coloring.

He has very light coloring.

Recent Examples on the Web

The new species was identified by its DNA, body size, skin texture, coloring, finger and toe shape, skeletal structure, teeth, and other subtle physical features, researchers said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025

Jesus, in profile in the frame, had shoulder-length waves like late-stage Michael Jackson but a coloring that was more African than His Mediterranean birth would imply, though not as dark as Jean, and much less so than Wole, an actual African. —David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025

In aged cheeses, sometimes pink coloring can be caused by a microbial defect. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025

The blue jay/green jay hybrid, a male offspring of a green jay mother and a blue jay father, has predominantly blue feathers, but exhibits black coloring on its face, similar to that of a green jay. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing coloring

• coloring book

Kids Definition

coloring

noun

col·​or·​ing ˈkəl-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: the act of applying colors

2

: something that produces color

food coloring

3

: the effect produced by applying or combining colors

4

: complexion sense 1, coloration

5

: change of appearance (as by adding color)