Definition

A change in color that makes something look different, often due to a stain or damage.

Example

The shirt had a noticeable discoloration after being washed with bleach.

Conversation

Have you noticed that discoloration on my shirt?

Yeah, I saw that! What happened?

I think it got stained in the wash and now there's a weird mark.

That’s annoying! Maybe you can try a stain remover?

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Discoloration is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart or away) and "color" (from Latin "color", meaning hue or appearance) and "-ation" (a suffix used to form nouns indicating an action or resulting state). The word refers to the state of having a color that is different from the original or normal hue, suggesting a change or removal of the original color.

Memory Tip

Think of 'dis-' meaning 'apart' and 'color' referring to 'hue' — discoloration means a change that takes the original color away.

Visually Confused Words