What does ochre mean?
Ochre is a naturally occurring yellow or yellow-brown earth pigment, traditionally made from iron-rich minerals and used in painting, pottery, and decoration. The word can also name the warm yellow-brown color associated with the pigment, or function as an adjective meaning “ochre-colored.” In descriptions of art and landscapes, ochre often suggests a earthy, sun-baked, or golden tone. The pigment has been used since prehistoric times, including in cave paintings and ancient decorative work, and remains important in both traditional and modern art. The spelling ocher is also standard in American English, while ochre is the more common form in British English and in international usage.
A natural yellow or reddish-brown earth pigment, especially one containing iron oxide; also the yellow-brown color of such a pigment.
"The artist mixed ochre with white to create a luminous yellow."
As a pigment, ochre is often used as a mass noun; plural forms refer to distinct varieties or shades.
Having the characteristic yellow-brown color of ochre.
"They painted the shutters a deep ochre."
The adjective is often hyphenated before a following noun, as in “ochre-colored walls.”
Ochre is commonly a mass noun when referring to the pigment in general. “Ochres” is used for different varieties or shades of the pigment or color.
"The palette contains several warm ochres."
Ochre is one of humanity’s oldest natural colors: a vivid yellow-brown earth pigment used in cave art, pottery, and painting for thousands of years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ochre come from?
The English word comes through French ocre from Latin ochra, which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek noun ōchra, referring to pale yellow earth or a yellowish pigment. The term was adopted in English for both the mineral pigment and the yellow-brown color it produces. Related forms include the variant spelling ocher and adjectives such as ochreous and ochraceous.
Related word forms
How ochre is actually used
Ochre is commonly used in art, archaeology, geology, and descriptions of color. As a pigment, it can be used as a mass noun; the plural ochres refers to distinct varieties or shades of ochre.
Easily confused with ochre
Ocher is an alternative American spelling of ochre; the pronunciation and meaning are essentially the same.
Sienna is a reddish-brown earth pigment, whereas ochre is typically a yellow or yellow-brown iron-based pigment.