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

Strange forms poured out of her—big looping flowers, organic spirals, cubes of contrasting primary colors. —Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025

Last year had a heavy emphasis on primary colors and otherworldly brights, but nail experts predict more realism for this spring’s nail color palette. —Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 7 Mar. 2025

Yellow and blue are the primary colors in the country’s national flag. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 5 Mar. 2025

While many of the pieces fulfilled another one of Goreski’s criteria, others fit within the film’s primary color scheme. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2025

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