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

Designed by Wolsey and local artist Emily Nichols, the mats and tablecloths are in a chic watercolor pattern and a preppy bee design. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026

Translating the watercolor study into print, Homer simplified the background and amplified the weight of the figure. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 31 July 2026

There are also plenty of games and activities for sale in the hotel store, including watercolor kits, colorful punch balloons, activity books, knitting kits, pick-up sticks, puzzles, toys, and more. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026

Goldberg specializes in abstract expressionism, cubism, surrealism, watercolor, collage and mixed media. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 26 July 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