primary color

noun

: any of a set of colors from which all other colors may be derived

Examples of primary color in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The clean lines and walls in neutral or primary colors happen to adhere to the aesthetic values of the Bauhaus style, though for Morgan, sparse decoration is about something much simpler. —Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 21 Mar. 2026

The newsletter featured a photo of the Rollins student painting a primary color wheel for the children. —Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026

Houses painted in bright primary colors circled the harbor, framed by white and purple lupines. —Gina Decaprio Vercesi, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026

This one reminds us of Scandinavian folk art with its abstract stripes and primary color scheme. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for primary color

• bicolor
• concolor
• discolor
• tricolor
• colour
• culler
• duller
• multicolor
• technicolor
• unicolor
• versicolor
• watercolor

Kids Definition

primary color

noun

: any of a set of colors from which all other colors may be made with the colors for light being red, green, and blue and for pigments or paint being red, yellow, and blue

Medical Definition

primary color

noun

: any of a set of colors (as red, yellow, and blue or red, green, and blue) from which all other colors may be derived