# watercolor

/ˈwɔtɝˌkəɫɝ/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/watercolor
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a type of paint that you mix with water to use. It is also the name for a picture painted with this style of paint.

For teachers: a pigment used with water as a medium to create paintings; also refers to a work of art produced using this method.

## Examples

- She is learning how to paint a sunset with watercolor.
- The artist chose watercolor for the landscape because the transparent colors captured the morning mist perfectly.
- While oil paints offer rich texture, watercolor allows for a delicate layering of washes that can evoke a sense of light and atmosphere difficult to achieve with heavier media.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the medium or paint itself; countable when referring to individual paintings.

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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.