pastel

1 of 2

noun

pas·​tel pa-ˈstel How to pronounce pastel (audio)
1
: a paste made of powdered pigment ranging from pale to deep colors and used for making crayons
also : a crayon made of such paste
2
a
: a drawing in pastel
b
: the process or art of drawing with pastels
3
: a light literary sketch
4
: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: of or relating to a pastel
b
: made with pastels
2
: pale and light in color
3
: lacking in body or vigor

Examples of pastel in a Sentence

Noun She has a collection of pastels. She prefers a pastel like light yellow. The room is painted in a pastel shade of blue. Adjective a pastel blue to go with the pale pink walls
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hello Kitty Sanrio Licensed 8-inch Squishmallow Hello Kitty fans will love this adorable pastel Squishmallow, which depicts the popular character with bunny ears. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 Anyone would be charmed by these creamy pastels, bright corals, and classic neutrals that serve as the finishing touch to any Easter outfit. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024 The dress is available in sizes S through XXL and a variety of festive pastels, including pink, mint green, and light blue, along with neutral shades like black and beige. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 From plaid and pastels to navy and nautical—prep never really goes out of style, but seen a noteworthy revival this season. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024 The feather-trim pastel knee skirt, mandarin-collar blouse, and grey cashmere V-neck are the holy trinity of polished daywear. Julia Hobbs, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024 There are 12 colors available, including neutrals, pastels, and trendy hues. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024 Numerous colors are available, including Easter pastels like lilac, pink, yellow, and more. Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2024 The color is dark gold instead of the usual creams or pastels. Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Gingham Peplum Top At the recent event, Jupiter rocked this peplum top with a pastel gingham pattern. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024 To complement the turquoise-blue ocean, there will be pastel blue furnishings and decor, and pale pink tones in the stonework. Emma Reynolds, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Add a little pastel pep to your holiday with our favorite (and completely doable) crafts. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 The Barbie star wore a pastel blue suit custom-made by Gucci and a bespoke TAG Heuer wristwatch to the SAG Awards on Saturday. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2024 Equipped with '90s inclinations, pastel color palettes, and distinct designs, these brands are subverting notions often associated with office-appropriate attire. Essence, 23 Feb. 2024 Whether styled with straight-leg jeans and a slouchy leather jacket like Holmes, worn with a peacoat and a colorful top like Portman, or dressed up with a pastel pink pantsuit like Blunt, white sneakers add a polished finishing touch to all kinds of outfits. Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 The brows anchored a soft pink and peach makeup look similar to the pastel pink outfit, with peachy blush on the apples of her cheeks, a hint of baby pink on her eyes, and a slick of pale pink gloss. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 Feb. 2024 Rather, they are immediately transported into a space right out of a Wes Anderson movie, thanks to the pastel hues, whimsical furniture and a series of arches and archways, which are meant to mimic the filmmaker’s signature symmetrical one-point perspectives. David Tran, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pastel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Italian pastello, from Late Latin pastellus woad, from diminutive of pasta

First Known Use

Noun

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pastel was in 1612

Dictionary Entries Near pastel

Cite this Entry

“Pastel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pastel

1 of 2 noun
pas·​tel pas-ˈtel How to pronounce pastel (audio)
1
a
: a paste made of ground color and used for making crayons
b
: a crayon of such paste
2
: a drawing in pastel
3
: any of various pale or light colors

pastel

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or made with pastels
2
: pale and light in color

More from Merriam-Webster on pastel

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