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
One room over, in the kitchen and dining area, walls and ceiling were a soft pink, with oversized copper light fixtures and the aforementioned disco ball. The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024 For her young daughter Frances Miller's bedroom, Richmond designer Ashley Hanley opted for this earthy pink—a smart pick for those seeking a more subtle way to incorporate more color. Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2024 Mix and match the four pairings for a colorful yet cohesive tablescape this Easter, or stick with pink for a fresh and light atmosphere. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, McLean, who has been showing off his pink 'do since earlier this month, shares daughters Lyric, 6, and Elliot, 11, with estranged wife Rochelle, 42. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024 Using Barbie actresses Margot Robbie and America Ferrera as an example, Lyons highlighted that Robbie owned the color pink throughout the Barbie press tour, while Ferrera stuck mainly to black looks. Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 How about companies stop limiting themselves to saccharine sweet pinks or commercials that are all about girl power? Caroline Colvin, Health, 9 Mar. 2024 She was decked out in a hot pink Dolce & Gabbana suit and a pair of nude colored platform heels from Gianvito Rossi. Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Subtle shades of pink were all over the ceremony, but the presenter’s lip color stood out for its high-shine effect. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
Adjective
This new patent leather Bamboo 1947 Mini Top Handle Bag from Gucci creative director Sabato De Sarno makes a big statement with its petite size and bold colors (think dark red, pink, orange and black). Marques Harper, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The curing process and application of both kosher salt and pink curing salt give pastrami its cured flavor, while aromatic spices rubbed onto the exterior ahead of smoking also contribute to its distinct taste. Jack Hennessy, Field & Stream, 13 Mar. 2024 Available in two designs—pink and pale green or blue and gray—both with a bright yellow handle, this case has a wide ridge around the edges for easy gripping. Tanya Edwards, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 Nude Look Velvet and topped it off with Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in #001 Pink. 03 America Ferrera America Ferrera was pretty in pink on the red carpet. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 The Plasma features a slew of diamonds including a pink diamond on the dial and as the crown. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 The captivating sight of tables adorned with vibrant green and pink acrylic tiles. Kinsey Gidicl, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 In pictures captured of her at the airport, Rihanna wore a pink hooded dress with a high slit at the leg. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 Chopard’s Temptations Collection linear earrings with pink sapphires with amethyst drops. Beth Bernstein, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
From organic green terrazzo with blue cement background, to pink marble terrazzo embedded in a pink granite. Grace Banks, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The brand has been handing out seasonal cups since 1997 and this year’s batch features a surprising color for the first time: pink! Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 6 Dec. 2023 The 50-petal-count blooms offer a unique color-changing effect that transitions from red to pink with a pale yellow to cream petal reverse. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2023 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

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 28 Mar. 2024.

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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