watercolor

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

watercolorist

2 of 2

noun (2)

: one who paints in watercolors

Examples of watercolor in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a landscape done in watercolor

He only works in watercolors.

We bought a watercolor of the shore.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

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

The marbled jean features wild horses surrounded by watercolor wind, rendered beautifully across a trouser-like fit that's cut close to the hips before flowing outward from the body to the floor. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Have your child use one to draw patterns or write words, then paint over their work with watercolors. — Michelle Crouch, Parents, 14 Aug. 2026

Shawkat wore an airy sundress with watercolor yellow and black-and-white leaf panelling, with her own pair of white stripe adidas. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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