watercolor

noun

wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkə-lər 

ˈwä-

1

: a paint of which the liquid is a water dispersion of the binding material (such as glue, casein, or gum)

2

: the art or method of painting with watercolors

3

: a picture or design executed in watercolors

watercolor adjective

watercolorist

ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkə-lə-rist 

ˈwä-

noun

Examples of watercolor in a Sentence

a landscape done in watercolor

He only works in watercolors.

We bought a watercolor of the shore.

Recent Examples on the Web

Back then, its namesake group of painters showcased their watercolors at the Newlyn Art Gallery; today the Newlyn School of Art taps into that cultural heritage with one-day courses in experimental portraits, seascapes, and abstraction, all taught by local artists. —Issy Von Simson, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026

Admire Local Art Dip even deeper into Maryville’s creative well at painter Charles Finley’s downtown gallery, where walls are embellished with his soft watercolor renderings of the surrounding East Tennessee landscapes. —Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

The illustrations feature gorgeous watercolor designs. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026

Among them was a watercolor, ostensibly by Russian artist Marianne von Werefkin, that was otherwise short of evidence supporting the attribution, according to Popovici. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for watercolor

• multicolor
• technicolor
• unicolor
• versicolor
• bicolor
• concolor
• discolor
• tricolor
• color
• colour
• culler
• duller

Kids Definition

watercolor

noun

wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯt-ər-ˌkəl-ər 

ˈwät-

1

: a paint whose liquid part is water

2

: a picture painted with watercolor

3

: the art of painting with watercolor

watercolorist

-ˌkəl-ə-rəst 

noun