What does discoloured mean?
Discoloured describes something that has lost its original colour or acquired unwanted stains, patches, or yellowness, usually through age, dirt, damp, sunlight, or chemical exposure. A discoloured shirt may have greyed in the wash; discoloured wallpaper may bear water stains; discoloured teeth may have yellowed over time. The word functions primarily as an adjective but is also the past tense and past participle of the verb 'to discolour', meaning to cause such a change. It is the standard British spelling, with American English preferring 'discolored'. The term carries a mildly negative connotation, implying deterioration or neglect rather than intentional colouring, and is most often used of fabrics, paper, surfaces, teeth, and metals. Derived from the Latin root 'color' via Old French, it belongs to the same family as 'colour', 'coloration', and 'discoloration'.
Having lost or changed its original colour, especially in a way that looks unattractive or suggests age, dirt, or damage.
"She replaced the discoloured lampshade with a crisp new one."
Standard British spelling; US usage prefers 'discolored'.
Past tense and past participle of 'discolour': to have caused something to lose or alter its natural colour.
"Years of smoking had discoloured the ceiling above his chair."
That yellowed page in an old book isn't just old — it's literally been 'uncoloured', one letter at a time from Latin through French.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of discoloured
Discoloured derives from the verb 'discolour', formed in English from the prefix 'dis-' (expressing reversal or removal) combined with 'colour', which entered Middle English from Old French 'colour' and ultimately from Latin 'color'. The verb has been used since at least the early modern period to mean depriving something of its hue or staining it wrongly. Cognates include 'coloration', 'chromatic' (from Greek 'khroma'), and 'polychrome', all tracing back to roots concerned with colour.
Related word forms
How discoloured is actually used
'Discoloured' is the standard British spelling; American English uses 'discolored'. It carries a mildly negative connotation, suggesting neglect, age, or damage rather than deliberate dyeing. Commonly applied to fabrics, paper, teeth, walls, and metals.
Easily confused with discoloured
'Discomforted' means made uneasy or uncomfortable, while 'discoloured' refers to a change or loss of colour.