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

Nothing will reignite those first-date butterflies like a custom watercolor sketch of your first date spot. —Irene Richardson, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026

Designed by Créme Design, all rooms have comfortable window seating areas; tree-slab-style side tables; built in light-wood headboards, bedside tables, and closets; cozy knit blankets; and prints of Arkansas landscape watercolors by William McNamara—whose originals can be found in the lobby. —Devorah Lev-Tov, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2026

Participants will learn how to paint with watercolors. —Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 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

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