ocher

1 of 2

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

ocherous

2 of 2

adjective

ocher·​ous ˈōk(ə)rəs 

variants or ochreous

" 

ˈōkrēəs

or less commonly ochrous

ˈōkrəs

1

: of or relating to ocher : containing or resembling ocher

2

: of the color ocher yellow

Examples of ocher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With natural stone in ocher and white and touches of unfinished wood, the undulating, interlocking structures create a modernist effect—a welcome change from the more classic and frumpy properties of the Côte d’Azur. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

The tightly cropped chromatic study harmonized peach (a broom leaning against a wall to the woman’s right), persimmon (her intricately patterned piqué dress), auburn (her voluminous hair), and faded ocher (the surrounding architecture). — James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Then, the ocher reveals itself as a carpet of yellow blooms, the mauve a blaze of deep purple interspersed with lighter lavender. — Alissa Greenberg, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026

Similar arguments have been made about ocher, which seems to have been used for sunscreen and possibly even wound dressings, as well as for coloring things. — ArsTechnica, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

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