coloration

noun

col·​or·​a·​tion ˌkə-lə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the state of having color

the dark coloration of his skin

b

: use or choice of colors (as by an artist)

c

: arrangement of colors

the coloration of a butterfly's wing

2

a

: characteristic quality

the newspapers … took on the former coloration of the magazine

—L. B. Seltzer

b

: aspect suggesting an attitude

the chameleon talent for taking on the intellectual coloration of whatever idea he happened to fasten onto

—Budd Schulberg

3

: subtle variation of intensity or quality of tone

a wide range of coloration from the orchestra

Examples of coloration in a Sentence

the coloration of a flower

the bright yellow coloration of the curtains

wine glasses with circle designs and blue and green colorations

He attempted to give a religious coloration to the war.

Recent Examples on the Web

This rare fossilization process allowed researchers to examine the species’ structural features, including its soft tissue, stomach and coloration patterns. —Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025

Mammals Diversified Much More Rapidly 66 Million Years Ago A Breakthrough in Color Much of this evolutionary and ecological data about early mammals has remained unknown due to the scarcity of information about the pigmentation and coloration of extinct mammal coats. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2025

Their coloration can also help with identification. —Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025

Ellie offers a coloration tip for hardware: Go with polished nickel. —Adam Shell, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin colōrātiōn-, colōrātiō, from Latin colōrāre "to color entry 2" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing coloration

• warning coloration

Rhymes for coloration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

coloration

noun

col·​or·​ation

ˌkəl-ə-ˈrā-shən

1

: use or arrangement of colors or shades : coloring

study the coloration of a flower

2

: the state of having color