# yellow

/ˈjɛɫoʊ/ (US) · /jˈɛləʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yellow
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the color

noun · CEFR A1

the color of lemons, sunflowers, or the sun.

For teachers: the color of light with a wavelength of approximately 580 nanometers; one of the three primary colors in subtractive systems.

- She chose a bright yellow for the kitchen walls to make the room feel warmer.
- The artist used a vibrant cadmium yellow to capture the intensity of the midday sun reflecting off the desert sands.

### 2. sports penalty

noun · CEFR B1

a yellow card shown by a referee to warn a player.

For teachers: a yellow card issued as a formal caution to a player for a foul or misconduct during a match.

- The defender received a yellow for a late tackle in the first half.
- After receiving an early yellow for dissent, the midfielder had to play more cautiously to avoid a second booking and a subsequent red card.

### 3. color description

adjective · CEFR A1

having the color of a lemon or gold.

For teachers: possessing a hue characterized by the color yellow.

- He wore a yellow raincoat so he would be easy to see in the storm.
- The autumn leaves turned a brilliant yellow before falling to the damp forest floor.

### 4. cowardly

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

not brave; easily scared.

For teachers: lacking courage or being easily intimidated; often used as a mild insult.

- He was too yellow to stand up to the bully.
- The antagonist mocked the hero, calling him yellow for refusing to participate in the dangerous duel.

### 5. sensationalist journalism

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

news that is shocking or exaggerated rather than being accurate.

For teachers: referring to journalism that relies on sensationalism and crude exaggeration to attract readers.

- The magazine was famous for its yellow journalism and fake celebrity stories.
- Historians often point to the yellow journalism of the late nineteenth century as a major factor in swaying public opinion toward war.

Usage: Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'yellow journalism'.

### 6. to change color with age

verb · CEFR B2

to turn yellow, especially because of age.

For teachers: to become yellow or yellower over time, often due to oxidation or exposure to light.

- The old newspapers had started to yellow and crumble at the edges.
- The white silk of the wedding dress had yellowed significantly after sitting in the attic for over fifty years.

## Examples

- The sun is bright yellow.
- She painted the kitchen walls a cheerful, buttery yellow to make the room feel warmer.
- The old book's pages had turned a brittle, faded yellow, smelling faintly of dust and time.

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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.