What does colourfast mean?
Colourfast is an adjective describing a material, garment, dye, or other object that keeps its colour under ordinary conditions such as washing, rubbing, or exposure to sunlight. A colourfast item does not fade significantly or release its dye into surrounding water or fabric. The term is especially common in textile and laundry contexts, where it is a practical reassurance that a coloured product will retain its appearance over time. It can also describe dyes, paints, or other substances whose colour is resistant to change. In British English the usual spelling is “colourfast,” while American English generally uses “colorfast.” The word combines “colour” with “fast,” in the older sense of being firmly fixed or resistant to change, rather than in its modern sense of moving quickly. Its usefulness lies in distinguishing lasting colour from a surface that merely looks bright.
adjectiveDescribing a material, dye, or item of clothing that retains its colour and does not fade or bleed when washed, exposed to light, or otherwise treated.
- Able to retain colour without fading or bleeding during washing, light exposure, or other ordinary use.
"The jacket is colourfast, so its deep blue has remained vivid through repeated washes."
"The old rug is still colourfast even though its pattern has faded in places."
"The manufacturer states that the fabric is colourfast and will not bleed during laundering."
Colourfast is a reminder that a vivid colour is not the same as a lasting one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does colourfast come from?
Colourfast is an English compound formed from “colour” and “fast.” In this construction, “fast” means secure, fixed, or resistant to change, especially in relation to dyes and pigments. The spelling “colorfast” is the corresponding American form. The related words “colour,” “colourful,” and “discolour” all share the same colour-forming element, although “colourfast” specifically developed as a practical compound about the durability of colour.
Related word forms
How colourfast is actually used
Common in textile, laundry, dye, and clothing contexts. British English normally spells it “colourfast,” while American English usually uses “colorfast.” The word is also used figuratively in advertising and product descriptions, where it implies durability and resistance to fading.
Easily confused with colourfast
Colourfast means that something keeps its colour, whereas colourless means that it has no colour to begin with.