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

In watercolor hues, this jelly manicure looks whimsical and soft. —Odeya Pinkus, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026

Also displayed at the meeting was a watercolor painting by Chuck Cassell of the old Blacksmith Shop. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026

Participants will learn how to paint with watercolors. —Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

This month, Davis painted the Christmas tree inside the Union Station and included a watercolor sticker of the Shuttlecock at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. —Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025

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