palette

noun

pal·​ette ˈpa-lət How to pronounce palette (audio)
1
: a thin oval or rectangular board or tablet that a painter holds and mixes pigments on
2
a
: the set of colors put on the palette
b(1)
: a particular range, quality, or use of color
The designer's palette consisted mostly of earth tones.
(2)
: a comparable range, quality, or use of available elements
a rich palette of tones and timbres
a palette of flavors
a palette of vegetables

Examples of palette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Get galactic with the Too Faced Cosmic Crush Eyeshadow Palette, or opt for an ultra-versatile palette from Urban Decay or Morphe that'll make your nude eye shadow dreams come true. Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 24 Nov. 2023 The blue, white, and orange color palette, meanwhile, is a nod to the flag of New York City. Liam Hess, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023 Thurstan Design in London is responsible for the color palette and the majority of design details. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2023 This palette features ten ultra-pigmented, blendable neutral shades, perfect for creating stunning eye looks that match the fall aesthetic. Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023 To make a point, and the points seem as limitless as the tartan palette, punks in the ’80s wore it. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 16 Nov. 2023 The couple is back with another risqué holiday card for McCarthy's clean makeup brand, Formless Beauty, which is launching three new Holiday Bundles, including the high-shine lip glosses, Bronzed Beauty eyeshadow palette and the new Elevate mascara. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023 And the surreal, dramatic scenery of the steaming El Tatio Geysers at sunrise can only be rivaled by the fiery palette of the Valle de Catarpe canyons at dusk. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2023 Yet, with their muted or all-gray palettes, the pictures aren’t especially summery. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'palette.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, diminutive of pale spade, from Latin pala; probably akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of palette was in 1622

Dictionary Entries Near palette

Cite this Entry

“Palette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palette. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

palette

noun
pal·​ette ˈpal-ət How to pronounce palette (audio)
1
: a thin usually oval board or tablet with a hole for the thumb at one end used by a painter to lay and mix pigments on
2
: the colors put on the palette

More from Merriam-Webster on palette

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