# bleached

/ˈbɫitʃt/ (US) · /blˈiːtʃt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bleached
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

made very white or much lighter in color by using chemicals or by being left in the sun.

For teachers: having been whitened or lightened in color through chemical treatment or exposure to sunlight. Often used as a participial adjective to describe hair, fabric, or bone.

## Examples

- She has bright bleached hair.
- The old wooden fence had a bleached appearance after years of standing in the desert sun.
- Environmentalists expressed concern over the bleached coral reefs, which serve as a stark visual indicator of rising ocean temperatures and ecological stress.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'look' or 'become', or appears directly before the noun it modifies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.