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colorfastness

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /ˈkʌləˌfæstnəs/

KK: /ˈkʌlɚˌfæstnəs/

noun
Definition

The quality of a material or dye that does not fade or change color when exposed to washing, light, or other conditions.


Example

The colorfastness of the fabric ensures that it will look vibrant even after many washes.


Conversation
Sloth A
I just bought some new clothes, but I'm worried about their colorfastness.
Sloth B
That's a good point! You don't want them to fade after a couple of washes.
Sloth A
Exactly! I should check the labels for their colorfastness ratings.
Sloth B
Yeah, it's always best to know how durable the colors are.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
durability
stability
resistance
Antonyms
fading
bleeding
instability
Root Explanation

Colorfastness is formed from "color" (from Latin "color", meaning hue or tint) and "-fastness" (from Old English "fæst", meaning firm or fixed). The term refers to the quality of a color being firm or resistant to fading or running.

Memory Tip

Think of 'color' as the hue and '-fastness' meaning something that is firm or fixed, which helps you remember that colorfastness refers to a color that does not fade easily.

Visually Confused Words
holdfastness
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