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

Meanwhile, in Bar Sur, regional maker Cata Flaño contributed a massive mixed-media mural combining watercolors with local peat, driftwood, and historical navigation charts marked at 55 degrees south. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

In Elizabeth Jane Howard’s 1950 debut novel The Beautiful Visit, her young protagonist becomes the lady’s companion of an ageing fantasist, Mrs Borders, who fills the hours and every wall and drawer of her house with watercolors. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026

The collection includes oil paintings, watercolors and miniatures by artists who lived and worked in India during the 18th and 19th centuries. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

The works were given without any tax incentives and include oil paintings, watercolors, and miniatures by artists who resided in South Asia during the 18th and 19th centuries. — News Desk, Artforum, 26 Oct. 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