colorist

1 of 2

noun

col·or·ist ˈkə-lə-rist

-lər-ist

plural colorists

: one that colors or deals with color

colorist

2 of 2

adjective

: prejudiced against people with dark skin

specifically : showing favor to light-skinned people over those with darker skin within a racial or ethnic group

The idea that lighter skin provides children less social stigma and more career opportunities, romantic partners, and an overall "easier life" fuels colorist narratives. —Kelly Wairimu Davis

Examples of colorist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Noun

My colorist is amazing — Kari Hill. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 This enabled attendees to not only take in the education in greater detail, but also to share with other stylists and colorists at their salons. — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Adjective

The entire encounter made Whitfield unwatchable from now on and revealed a colorist dynamic among the rest of the group. — Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 After decades of neglect, many Victorians found new life during the colorist movement of the 1960s. — Itay Hod, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for colorist

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French coloriste, from Latin color color entry 1 + French -iste -ist entry 1

Adjective

color entry 1 + -ist entry 2 (after racist entry 1, sexist, etc.)

First Known Use

Noun

1685, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1990, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of colorist was in 1685

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

colorism

colorist

coloristic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Colorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorist. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

colorist

noun

adjective

Examples of colorist in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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