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 of coloring

• 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

Think bubbles, coloring pages, freeze dance, or even a craft station, complete with clay, paper, glue, and other assorted items that kids can create with. — Amanda Rock, Parents, 12 Aug. 2026

Researchers made a prototype dress out of different modules of the textiles, giving the dress’ collar, body and hem varied properties such as patterning, coloring and self-cleaning. — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026

The giraffe that had arrived a year earlier was presented to the emperor as a qilin, a mythological creature described as a cross between a deer and a unicorn, with a single horn and tortoiseshell coloring. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026

Still, the system can occasionally trap the wrong animal, such as box turtles, which have a similar coloring to a tegu. — Laurie Mermet, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

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)