coloured
gb/kˈʌlɚd/ us/kˈʌlɚd/
A2
English
~ 4900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Having one or more colours
Having one or more colours, not just black, white, or grey.
Usage pattern:
[something] is coloured [colour/description]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'coloured' with 'colourful'. 'Coloured' simply means having colour, while 'colourful' often implies many bright colours and attractiveness.
Synonyms
colored (Alternative spelling used in American English.)
|
dyed (Specifically means the colour was added artificially.)
Antonyms
colourless (Lacking any colour.)
|
plain (Without any design or added colour.)
Collocations
brightly coloured
|coloured paper
|coloured lights
|coloured fabric
Themes
appearance
|art
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The room was decorated with brightly coloured balloons.
- She wore a beautifully coloured scarf.
- The fish in the aquarium are all brightly coloured.
- These documents are printed on coloured paper for easy sorting.
Learner examples
- The box is coloured red.
- She has a coloured dress.
- I like coloured pencils.
- The wall is coloured blue.
adjective
B1
property
2
With colour added artificially
Made to have a colour by using paint, dye, or another substance.
Usage pattern:
[something] is coloured with [substance]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realise that 'coloured' here implies the colour is not natural.
Synonyms
dyed (Commonly used for fabrics and hair.)
|
tinted (Usually means slightly coloured.)
Antonyms
natural-coloured (Keeping the original, unaltered colour.)
Collocations
artificially coloured
|coloured hair
|coloured glass
Themes
manufacturing
|art
|fashion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The water in the fountain was artificially coloured for the festival.
- She had her hair coloured last week.
- These beads are made of coloured glass.
Learner examples
- My hair is coloured brown now.
- The juice is coloured red.
- The window is coloured blue.
adjective
B2
property
3
Influenced by opinion or feeling
Changed by a person's feelings or ideas, not completely fair or neutral.
Usage pattern:
[something] is coloured by [feeling/opinion]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this figurative meaning with the literal sense of having colour.
Synonyms
biased (Shows unfair preference due to opinion or prejudice.)
|
influenced (Affected by a certain factor.)
Antonyms
objective (Not affected by personal feelings; neutral.)
Collocations
coloured view
|coloured account
|coloured perception
Themes
psychology
|communication
|emotions
Examples
- His judgement was coloured by his past experiences.
- The article gave a coloured account of the events.
- Her memories of the place are coloured by nostalgia.
Learner examples
- His answer was coloured by anger.
- My view is coloured by my family.
- The story is coloured by love.
adjective
historical
B2
property
4
Racial classification term (dated)
An old word, now offensive, for someone who is not white, used in history books and old laws.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realise this term is outdated and offensive in most contexts today.
Synonyms
mixed-race (Modern term for people of more than one racial background; neutral but context-dependent.)
Collocations
coloured person
|coloured community
Themes
history
|society
|politics
|relationships
Examples
- The term 'coloured' was used in apartheid-era South Africa to classify certain groups of people.
- Old signs reading 'Coloured Only' can still be found in museums.
Learner examples
- The book says he was called a coloured man.
- In history class we read about 'coloured' people in South Africa.
Grammar
Dictionary form
coloured
IPA
GB/kˈʌlɚd/
US/kˈʌlɚd/
Syllables & stress
col - oured (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (col)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: coloured
Word family
Expressions
artificially coloured
1/ˌɑɹtəfˈɪʃəli kˈʌlɚd/
fixed phrase
With artificial colour added
Coloured using something made by people, like paint or dye.
Examples
- The drinks were artificially coloured to make them look more appealing.
- This fabric is artificially coloured using natural dyes.
brightly coloured
1/bɹˈaɪtli kˈʌlɚd/
fixed phrase
Having vivid colours
Having strong and bright colours.
Examples
- The children wore brightly coloured costumes for the play.
- Brightly coloured flowers filled the garden.
coloured by [something]
1/kˈʌlɚd bˈaɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Influenced by something else
Made different because of a feeling, opinion, or other influence.
Examples
- His judgement was coloured by jealousy.
- Her memories are coloured by sadness.