ocher

noun

ˈō-kər 

variants or ochre

1

: an earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as a pigment

2

: the color of ocher

especially : the color of yellow ocher

ocherous

ˈō-k(ə-)rəs 

adjective

or ochreous

ˈō-k(ə-)rəs 

-krē-əs

Examples of ocher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And, what’s more, there’s no ocher inside the cave or outside it. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2025

Nightmare-level ocher to emerald to deep-black darkness. —Leanne Shapton, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

To learn more about the unusual rock, the researchers first confirmed that the red dot was ocher, a natural pigment made from clay. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2025

Analysis showed that the red dot consisted of ocher, a natural earth pigment. —Peter Guo, NBC news, 28 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oker, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ocre, from Latin ochra, from Greek ōchra, from feminine of ōchros yellow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ocher

• red ocher
• yellow ocher

Rhymes for ocher

• blocker
• chalker
• cocker
• docker
• hawker
• hocker
• knocker
• locker
• mocker
• rocker
• shocker
• soccer

Kids Definition

ocher

noun

variants or ochre

ˈō-kər 

1

: an earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as coloring matter

2

: the color of yellow ocher