ENGLISH
REFERENCE

palette

n.
US //ˈpæɫət// UK //pˈælət// pal·ette
  1. 1 artist's mixing board (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a thin board, often with a hole for the thumb, that an artist uses to hold and mix paint.

    a thin, portable board on which a painter lays and mixes pigments.

    Example

    The painter held his palette in one hand while carefully mixing a shade of sunset orange.

    Example

    The artist's wooden palette was encrusted with layers of dried oil paint, a testament to decades of work in the same studio.
    Pitfall
    He has a sophisticated palate for art.
    He has a sophisticated palette for art.

    Do not confuse 'palette' (colours/board) with 'palate' (the roof of the mouth or a sense of taste).

  2. 2 range of colours (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the specific set of colours used by an artist or designer for a particular project.

    the range of colours used by a particular artist or in a specific work of art or design.

    Example

    The designer chose a palette of soft blues and greys for the bedroom.

    Example

    The film's muted palette effectively conveys the somber atmosphere of the post-war setting.
  3. 3 makeup set (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a small tray or case that contains several different colours of makeup, like eyeshadow.

    a collection of cosmetics, such as eyeshadows or lip colours, packaged together in a single container.

    Example

    She bought a new eyeshadow palette with shimmering gold and brown tones.

    Example

    Professional makeup artists often carry a versatile palette that allows them to blend custom shades for different skin tones.
  4. 4 software interface (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a window or bar in a computer program where you can choose colours or tools.

    a graphical user interface element that provides a selection of colours, tools, or commands.

    Example

    You can change the brush size by selecting a different option from the tool palette.

    Example

    The software update introduced a floating palette, allowing users to access frequently used filters without navigating the main menu.
  5. 5 armour plate (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    a piece of metal armour used in the past to protect the joints of the arms.

    a small plate of armour designed to protect the joints at the elbows or shoulders.

    Example

    The knight's suit included a palette to protect his shoulder during the tournament.

    Example

    The museum's collection features a rare fourteenth-century harness with the original palettes still attached to the pauldrons.
Origin

Borrowed from French palette. Doublet of pallet.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026