pastel

1 of 2

noun

pas·​tel pa-ˈstel 

1

: a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons

also : a crayon made of such paste

2

a

: a drawing in pastel

b

: the process or art of drawing with pastels

3

: a light literary sketch

4

: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of or relating to a pastel

b

: made with pastels

2

: pale and light in color

3

: lacking in body or vigor

Synonyms of pastel

Adjective

• pale
• faded
• light

Examples of pastel in a Sentence

Noun

She has a collection of pastels.

She prefers a pastel like light yellow.

The room is painted in a pastel shade of blue.

Adjective

a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The buildings are awash in pastels; the locals are friendly, quick to smile. —Essence, 13 May 2026

Bright reds and yellows offer high visibility from the street, while soft pastels like lavender, pink and white create a calm, cozy-home feel. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026

Adjective

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts will be filled from top to bottom with art in a wide variety of techniques and mediums – pastel, watercolor, oil, acrylic and mixed media – during the North County Society of Fine Arts Exhibit through May 30. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026

Having failed to please Greene with her abstractions, Lovelace O’Neal applied the powder directly to her white canvases, covering it in black pigment that became a background to pastel squiggles. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus woad, from diminutive of pasta

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for pastel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

pastel

1 of 2 noun

pas·​tel pas-ˈtel 

1

a

: a paste made of ground color and used for making crayons

b

: a crayon of such paste

2

: a drawing in pastel

3

: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or made with pastels

2

: pale and light in color