earth tone

noun

: any of various rich colors containing some brown

When fashion becomes elaborate, makeup colors take a quieter stance. Earth tones in particular—mustard, cocoa, taupe, and wheat—are well suited to this monochromatic look.

—Anna Quinn

From the mellow earth tones of old stone walls to the brilliant colors of space-age titanium, the bodegas of Spain's most prestigious wine region embody a dynamic culture of architecture …

—Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen

earth-toned

ˈərth-ˌtōnd 

adjective

Examples of earth tone in a Sentence

She wears a lot of earth tones.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since taking over the space more than a month ago, she’s traded the previous shop’s blue trim and eclectic design for earth tones and minimalist accents. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2025

Many coats were belted at the waist, emphasizing femininity, and the colors were a beautiful mix of varying earth tones of brown, soft terracotta and blush with some yellow accents. —Laia Farran Graves, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

The vast variety of earth tones fit any bedroom aesthetic. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2025

What has resulted is a mesmerizing mash-up: of old and new, earth tones and neon, and a scale that shifts from grand to granular. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for earth tone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone