earth tone

noun

: any of various rich colors containing some brown

When fashion becomes elaborate, makeup colors take a quieter stance. Earth tones in particular—mustard, cocoa, taupe, and wheat—are well suited to this monochromatic look.

—Anna Quinn

From the mellow earth tones of old stone walls to the brilliant colors of space-age titanium, the bodegas of Spain's most prestigious wine region embody a dynamic culture of architecture …

—Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen

earth-toned

ˈərth-ˌtōnd 

adjective

Examples of earth tone in a Sentence

She wears a lot of earth tones.

Recent Examples on the Web

The elegant guest rooms feature earth tones and ocean views. —Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Balance these shades with a neutral hue to create an everyday-ready look that's more exciting than usual earth tones alone. —Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 5 June 2026

Contributor Erika Owen and I both own and love Quince’s linen sheets, which come in an impressive range of prints and earth tones to fit any bedroom aesthetic. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026

Each new style adds neutral and drab earth tones to the 2000s-era running shoe, which has been quietly upgraded with high-performance technology. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for earth tone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone