tricolor

1 of 2

adjective

tri·​col·​or ˈtrī-ˌkə-lər 

 also  ˈtrē-,

 especially British  ˈtri-kə-lə

1

a

or tricolored

ˈtrī-ˈkə-lərd 

: having, using, or marked with three colors

b

of a dog : having a coat of black, tan, and white

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tricolor or a nation whose flag is a tricolor

especially : french

tricolor

2 of 2

noun

1

: a flag of three colors arranged in equal horizontal or vertical bands

the French tricolor

2

: a tricolor animal

especially : a tricolor dog

Examples of tricolor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cricket is widely followed in Afghanistan, and the country’s national team – whose emblem still displays the tricolor flag of the government ousted by the Taliban – has been a source of national pride for many, even though the Taliban has barred women from playing cricket. —Joseph Ataman, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024

There is no separating the two now, despite all the separations: the gates, the fences, the bollards, the closures, the motorcades, the river itself — a metropolis clamping down yet very much breathing, waving the tricolor flag of sport, profit and patriotism. —Dan Zak, Washington Post, 26 July 2024

Noun

Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. —Riazat Butt, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024

With a blue cover and a simple tricolor stripe running below the author’s name, rendered in an elegant script, the book recalls the Library of America collection. —Oscar Schwartz, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French tricolore three-colored, from Late Latin tricolor, from Latin tri- + color color

First Known Use

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tricolor

1 of 2 noun

tri·​col·​or ˈtrī-ˌkəl-ər 

: a flag of three colors

tricolor

2 of 2 adjective

variants or tricolored

ˈtrī-kəl-ərd

: having, using, or marked with three colors