pink

1 of 5

noun (1)

: a ship with a narrow overhanging stern

called also pinkie

pink

2 of 5

noun (2)

1
: any of a genus (Dianthus of the family Caryophyllaceae, the pink family) of chiefly Eurasian herbs having usually pink, red, or white flowers
2
a
: the very embodiment : paragon
b(1)
: one dressed in the height of fashion
(2)
: elite
c
: highest degree possible : height
keep their house in the pink of repairRebecca West

pink

3 of 5

noun (3)

1
: any of a group of colors bluish red to red in hue, of medium to high lightness, and of low to moderate saturation
2
a
: the scarlet color of a fox hunter's coat
also : a fox hunter's coat of this color
b
: pink-colored clothing
c
pinks plural : light-colored trousers formerly worn by army officers
3
: pinko

pink

4 of 5

adjective

1
: of the color pink
2
: holding moderately radical and usually socialistic political or economic views
3
: emotionally moved : excited
often used as an intensive
tickled pink
pinkness noun

pink

5 of 5

verb

pinked; pinking; pinks

transitive verb

1
a
: to perforate in an ornamental pattern
b
: to cut a saw-toothed edge on
2
a
b
: to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule
Phrases
in the pink
: in the best of health or condition

Did you know?

The verb pink referring to perforation and piercing is from a Middle English word meaning "to thrust." It dates to the early 16th century whereas the noun referring to the color pink and its related adjective date to the 17th and 18th centuries, respectively.

Examples of pink in a Sentence

Adjective Her dress is pale pink. Verb accidentally pinked my shoulder with his fencing sword
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Flowers included tones of pinks, oranges, reds, and yellows and included some of the bride’s favorites—like roses, dahlias, fire lilies, and Dianthus Hollandia. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023 However, there are some gems worth their price point like this Alaskan Fir (our Best Value pick) and, if whimsy is more your style, this slim Douglas Fir in pink (pictured below). Olivia Avitt, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023 The rooms, wrapped in leafy green wallpaper with touches of grapefruit pink (what else?), include custom Tommy Bahama amenities. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2023 Tomei, more often than not, opts for neutral makeup hues: barely-there lip tints in subtle pinks and peaches, and warm brown eye shadow with the occasional touch of shimmer or black liner. Marci Robin, Allure, 7 Nov. 2023 For the fashionable baby, Bonne Étoile can be bought in a light pink or a light green colorway, and the bottle depicts a Toile de Jouy pattern with a garden of Granville. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2023 Dense and layered, the paintings are dominated by pinks and browns, with occasional interjections of blue. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023 Be sure to center soft browns and pinks pulled from a palette that suits your complexion—and when in doubt, less is more. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2023 On the set designed by David Zinn, the salon’s walls are painted a deep, robust pink, with bags of braiding hair hanging along the walls. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2023
Adjective
On the news, a storm is given a name—the sea is hysterical, the sky pulsing cerulean and pink like a feast. Stav Poleg, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023 This small city in Mexico’s central highlands is known for its lively culinary scene and its vibrant orange and pink buildings lining narrow cobblestone streets. Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2023 The Austrian town of Braunau am Inn, sitting just at the border with Germany, has a 15th-century church tower, cobblestone streets and cluttered rows of charming, colorful houses, some in green, pink and blue. Graham Bowley, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023 In the shot, Jolie, Pax and Maddox pose with several event attendees near a table decorated with AKA colors — green and pink. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023 While the red shade is already sold out, you can be notified about the release of upcoming grey and pink options over at Nike.com. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 Nov. 2023 All of this came to a head last night when Depp returned to her maker (Chanel) in a pink tweed twin-set and practical heels, to join Riley Keough and Kristen Stewart at the Academy Women’s Luncheon. Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2023 Choose from 12 colors, ranging from classic black to bright pink. Rebecca Martinson, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2023 In January, bright pink waves were seen crashing along the shore in San Diego. CBS News, 10 Nov. 2023
Verb
There’s a huge range of content, from white noise, through to pink and brown noise, naturescapes, southbaths, customizable bedtime stories, and loads more. Rachael Hogg, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2023 In the beginning, the return of Barbie pink was exciting, in a high-camp, postmodern, conceptual kind of way; a way that reframed a relationship to pink that had been poisoned by the marketing of gender stereotype back in the 1970s. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 24 July 2023 The movie lovingly depicts Barbie’s routine as a source of fun rather than of intense pressure, reveling in her commitment to pink, the intensive grooming, the frequent changes in hairstyles and outfits. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 20 July 2023 In a new Instagram post, the actress wore another new hairdo, which follows her recent shift from blonde to pink. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023 On the other side, the sky fades to pink and purple over the gently rolling Tennessee River. Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2023 Available in seven colors, from blue to pink to yellow, this match holder might just steal the show entirely. Jake Smith, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2023 The pair were snapped walking toward the theater side by side in casual outfits (sans pink). Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 22 July 2023 This cotton linen set is available in a handful of colors ranging from statement-making Barbie pink to versatile black. Amber Love Bond, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pink.' 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

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch pinke

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Verb

Middle English, to thrust

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pink was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near pink

Cite this Entry

“Pink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pink. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

pink

1 of 3 noun
1
: any of a genus of herbs that have narrow leaves and are often grown for their showy usually pink flowers produced singly or in clusters
2
: the highest degree
athletes in the pink of condition

pink

2 of 3 noun
: a pale red
pink adjective
pinkish
ˈpiŋ-kish
adjective
pinkness noun

pink

3 of 3 verb
: to cut cloth, leather, or paper in an ornamental pattern or with a saw-toothed edge
Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

from earlier pink "stab, pierce," from Middle English pinken "to thrust"

More from Merriam-Webster on pink

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