pink

1 of 5

noun (1)

: a ship with a narrow overhanging stern

called also pinkie

pink

2 of 5

noun (2)

1
: any of a genus (Dianthus of the family Caryophyllaceae, the pink family) of chiefly Eurasian herbs having usually pink, red, or white flowers
2
a
: the very embodiment : paragon
b(1)
: one dressed in the height of fashion
(2)
: elite
c
: highest degree possible : height
keep their house in the pink of repairRebecca West

pink

3 of 5

noun (3)

1
: any of a group of colors bluish red to red in hue, of medium to high lightness, and of low to moderate saturation
2
a
: the scarlet color of a fox hunter's coat
also : a fox hunter's coat of this color
b
: pink-colored clothing
c
pinks plural : light-colored trousers formerly worn by army officers
3
: pinko

pink

4 of 5

adjective

1
: of the color pink
2
: holding moderately radical and usually socialistic political or economic views
3
: emotionally moved : excited
often used as an intensive
tickled pink
pinkness noun

pink

5 of 5

verb

pinked; pinking; pinks

transitive verb

1
a
: to perforate in an ornamental pattern
b
: to cut a saw-toothed edge on
2
a
b
: to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule
Phrases
in the pink
: in the best of health or condition

Did you know?

The verb pink referring to perforation and piercing is from a Middle English word meaning "to thrust." It dates to the early 16th century whereas the noun referring to the color pink and its related adjective date to the 17th and 18th centuries, respectively.

Examples of pink in a Sentence

Noun (2) the pink of society will be at the gala for the city's opera company Adjective Her dress is pale pink. Verb accidentally pinked my shoulder with his fencing sword
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.
Noun
But Eilish dangling her feet over the stage, singing her Barbie ditty to a near 4 minutes in length with audiences softly (this time) backing her up was an undeniable emotional highpoint of the show in a bask of pink. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024 Ariana’s look coordinated with her Wicked press run wardrobe as the actress starred as Glinda — wearing various hues of pink for virtually every appearance since the film was announced. Angel Saunders, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Poinsettias now come with bracts of white, orange, yellow, pink, purple, blue, and various shades of red. Norman Ellstrand and Nathan Ellstrand / Made By History, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024 Some of the most popular iterations on the Western market tend to offer a sparse range that usually includes bolder hues of pink or red, but almost never feature something more neutral for day-to-day wear. Denise Primbet, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
For Men And Women For both men and women, the Rivera collection offers diameters ranging from 33 to 43 mm, along with a colour palette that spans from blue to pink. Baume & Mercier Contributor, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 Editor's tip: The treatment comes in four shades, ranging from clear and fragrance-free to pink with a subtle vanilla scent. Jenny Berg, Allure, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pink 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle Dutch pinke

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Verb

Middle English, to thrust

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pink was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near pink

Cite this Entry

“Pink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pink. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pink

1 of 3 noun
1
: any of a genus of herbs that have narrow leaves and are often grown for their showy usually pink flowers produced singly or in clusters
2
: the highest degree
athletes in the pink of condition

pink

2 of 3 noun
: a pale red
pink adjective
pinkish
ˈpiŋ-kish
adjective
pinkness noun

pink

3 of 3 verb
: to cut cloth, leather, or paper in an ornamental pattern or with a saw-toothed edge
Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

from earlier pink "stab, pierce," from Middle English pinken "to thrust"

More from Merriam-Webster on pink

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!