grey
adjective
less common spelling of gray
1
a
: of the color gray
b
: tending toward gray
blue-gray eyes
c
: dull in color
2
: having gray hair
grew old and gray
3
: clothed in gray
4
b
: prosaically ordinary : dull, uninteresting
… the … boring, gray dullness of government …—
P. J. O'Rourke
P. J. O'Rourke5
: having an intermediate and often vaguely defined position, condition, or character
an ethically gray area
Usage of Gray and Grey
Gray and grey are both accepted spellings. Gray is more frequent in US English, while grey is preferred in Canada, the UK, and elsewhere.
Examples of grey in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Clenton's vehicle collided with a grey Seat Ibiza vehicle, leaving several other individuals hospitalized, per a press release from the Staffordshire Police.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
These heels are one of the label’s signature styles, offered in a slew of colors and finishes, ranging from grey satin to silver mirror-effect leather.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Besides his longevity, Robert stood out for his shoulder-length hair and black-and-grey beard — an image regularly portrayed on area billboards.
—Jim Walsh, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
This naturally occurring low-oxygen zone is on one of the migration routes for humpback and grey whales that travel between Hawaii and Alaska.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grey
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Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
These heels are one of the label’s signature styles, offered in a slew of colors and finishes, ranging from grey satin to silver mirror-effect leather.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Besides his longevity, Robert stood out for his shoulder-length hair and black-and-grey beard — an image regularly portrayed on area billboards.
—Jim Walsh, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
This naturally occurring low-oxygen zone is on one of the migration routes for humpback and grey whales that travel between Hawaii and Alaska.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grey
Cite this Entry
“Grey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grey. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Grey 1 of 4
biographical name (1)
2nd Earl 1764–1845 Charles Grey English statesman; prime minister (1830–34)
Grey
2 of 4biographical name (2)
Sir Edward 1862–1933 Viscount
Grey of Fallodon
ˈfa-lə-dᵊn 
English politician
English politician
Grey
3 of 4biographical name (3)
Lady Jane 1537–1554 titular queen of England for 9 days
Grey
4 of 4biographical name (4)
Zane 1875–1939 American novelist
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