woman of color

noun

plural women of color
: a woman whose skin pigmentation is other than and especially darker than what is considered characteristic of people typically defined as white (see white entry 1 sense 2a) : a woman who is of a race (see race entry 1 sense 1a) other than white or who is of mixed race
… Sen. Kamala Harris of California, will become the first woman of color to accept a major party's vice presidential nomination on Wednesday.Steve Peoples
In reality the 19th Amendment failed to enfranchise thousands of American women of color—Black, Asian, Latina and Native American.Anna Bloom

Examples of woman of color in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In addition to identifying as a Black entrepreneur, Burton-Mims is a working mom who can relate to the overlapping demands that contribute to burnout for women of color, including the emotional tax of microaggressions and feeling pressure to outperform in order to belong. Gabrielle Gayagoy Gonzalez, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 As a woman of color on primetime television, Kotb recognizes the significance of her visibility. Essence, 23 June 2025 He’s heard a lot of talk among the LGBTQ community about next year’s midterm elections and serious concerns over the safety of transgender people, especially transgender women of color. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025 Limón will be the first woman of color to ever hold the role. Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for woman of color

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of woman of color was in 1791

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Cite this Entry

“Woman of color.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woman%20of%20color. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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