watercolor

noun

wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkə-lər How to pronounce watercolor (audio)
ˈwä-
Synonyms of watercolornext
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 How to pronounce watercolor (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But to my surprise, these watercolors have bucked the trend. — Lauren Silbert, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 Paul would need to be in his stone turret office on the idyllic watercolor of a campus five days a week. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 Take the look even further by pairing it with trending tones and techniques, like sheer jelly bases or watercolor renditions of your go-to berry. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 3 July 2026 Story’s groomer didn’t dye his whole body—just the puffy fur around his ankles, ears, and the tip of his tail, which fades from violet to a soft lavender like something out of a watercolor painting. — Angela Haupt, Time, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for watercolor

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of watercolor was in 1596

Rhymes for watercolor

See All Rhymes for watercolor

Browse Nearby Words

water colly
watercolor
watercolored
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

watercolor

noun
wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯt-ər-ˌkəl-ər How to pronounce watercolor (audio)
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 How to pronounce watercolor (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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