What does pink mean?
Pink is both a familiar color and a word with several social and idiomatic uses. In its most common meaning, it describes the pale or rosy shade made by mixing red with white, as in pink flowers, pink clothing, or a pink sunset. As a noun, it can refer to the color itself or to a pink flower, a type of Dianthus known for its fragrant, ruffled blooms. In political language, pink may describe someone or something regarded as left-wing, liberal, or insufficiently forceful, although the expression often carries a dismissive tone. The phrase in the pink means being healthy, youthful, or in particularly good condition. Pink also has an informal anatomical meaning referring to the external female genitals, but this usage may be considered vulgar. As a verb, pink means to turn or become pink, as when a person blushes. The word is especially useful in descriptions of color, fashion, nature, and emotional or physical reactions.
Having the color formed by mixing red with white, especially in a pale or rosy shade.
"The room was decorated with pink walls and white furniture."
It can also mean politically left-wing, often with a dismissive or critical connotation.
The pale or rosy color made by mixing red with white; a pigment or material of this color; or a pink flower.
"Her shirt was a soft shade of pink."
In the anatomical sense, it is an informal and sometimes vulgar term for the external female genitals.
To turn or become pink.
"The sky pinked as the sun began to set."
This use is relatively uncommon outside descriptive or literary contexts.
The plural is used for multiple flowers of the genus Dianthus, especially garden pinks.
"A bowl of pinks sat on the kitchen table."
The color pink takes its name from the flower, whose petals provided an obvious source for the familiar rosy shade.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pink come from?
The English word pink is recorded as a flower name before it became a color term. The color was named after the flower because the plant's petals are commonly pink or rose-colored. The word's deeper origin is uncertain, and it should not be confidently traced to a particular ancient language without specialist evidence.
Related word forms
How pink is actually used
In the phrase in the pink, the word means healthy, youthful, or in excellent condition and is informal. In the sense meaning politically left-wing, it may sound dismissive or pejorative. The anatomical sense is informal and can be vulgar, depending on context. The verb is less common than the adjective and noun.