pastel

1 of 2

noun

pas·​tel pa-ˈstel 

1

: a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons

also : a crayon made of such paste

2

a

: a drawing in pastel

b

: the process or art of drawing with pastels

3

: a light literary sketch

4

: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of or relating to a pastel

b

: made with pastels

2

: pale and light in color

3

: lacking in body or vigor

Synonyms

Adjective

• dull
• dulled
• faded
• light
• pale
• washed-out
• washy

Examples of pastel in a Sentence

Noun

She has a collection of pastels.

She prefers a pastel like light yellow.

The room is painted in a pastel shade of blue.

Adjective

a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For 4 1/2 hours, the light becomes magical and the colors of everything are perfect pastel against the artic sky, with delicate and unreal shades. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Sort Clothes Properly Start by sorting clothing by color: light (white, pastel, light gray, and white background prints) and dark (black, red, navy, brown, and dark gray). —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Driving the news: The program will offer contributing historic hotels matching grants up to $20,000 to refresh their exteriors with pastel colors that personify the Art Deco style. —Martin Vassolo, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025

At the National Board of Review Gala in New York City, Elle Fanning was the perfect match to Alessandro Michele’s Valentino: The A Complete Unknown star dazzled in his pastel chiffon gown and faux fur shrug, the perfect reflection of her sugary-sweet style. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus woad, from diminutive of pasta

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

pastel

1 of 2 noun

pas·​tel pas-ˈtel 

1

a

: a paste made of ground color and used for making crayons

b

: a crayon of such paste

2

: a drawing in pastel

3

: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or made with pastels

2

: pale and light in color