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

Issa would bring a picnic and sketchbooks and miniature watercolor palettes to meet up with a stranger, for instance. — Emily Gould, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

The watercolor on paper was meant to mark the 160th anniversary of Juneteenth. — Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026

Afternoons could include a farm-to-table cooking class focused on handmade Mexican tortillas, a watercolor workshop or harvesting seasonal produce directly from the fields. — Jill Schildhouse, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The artworks stolen from the museum—located around 12 miles from the city of Parma—included Cézanne’s watercolor and pencil creation Still Life with Cherries, the Matisse aquatint Odalisque on the Terrace, and the painting Fish by Renoir. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 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