colorant

noun

col·​or·​ant ˈkə-lə-rənt How to pronounce colorant (audio)
-lər-ənt
: a substance used for coloring a material : dye, pigment

Examples of colorant in a Sentence

in ancient times, a mollusk was used to produce a rich purple colorant for clothing and linens
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.
The remaining 10% — largely colorants, additives, and contaminants removed during the purification process – are safely managed or sold. Tracy Yochum, Sacramento Bee, 29 Jan. 2025 When the colorant was first approved for use in food in 1907, there was little research on its effects. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 15 Jan. 2025 Companies like Ferrara, which produces Brach’s candies, and Just Born, the maker of Peeps, have already begun removing the dye from their products, while other companies have turned to alternatives like Red Dye No. 40 or natural colorants, from beets to turmeric. Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025 But some of these colorants have long been banned in the European Union, Canada and other countries without the pressure of a Delaney Clause. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for colorant 

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of colorant was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near colorant

Cite this Entry

“Colorant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colorant. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on colorant

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