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

Use Watercolors to Capture the Scenery Bring a small watercolor kit to a local park or the beach and paint whatever catches your eye. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026

This iteration of ivy decor is less like a realistic watercolor and more like a freer, more abstract one. — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2026

But by the time the work was shown at Documenta in 2017, the piece came to include a vast array of watercolors that complemented the images spread across six screens. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026

Choose a soothing activity, maybe watercolor, music, cooking, or a quiet walk, and give it your full attention so your spirit settles. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 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